An account of the Ottoman conquest of Egypt in the year A.H. 922 (A.D. 1516) /

AN ACCOUNT OF THE
OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

ORIENTAL TRANSLATION FUND

NEW SERIES
VOL. XXV

AN ACCOUNT OF THE

OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

IN THE YEAR a.h. 922 (a.d. 1516)

TRANSLATED FROM THE THIRD VOLUME OF THE
ARABIC CHRONICLE OF MUHAMMED IBN AHMED
IBN IYAS, AN EYE-WITNESS OF THE SCENES HE

DESCRIBES

BY

Lieut.-Colonel W. H. SALMON

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATRONAGE OP

THE ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY

AND SOLD AT

74 GROSVENOR STREET, LONDON, W. 1

1921

STEPHEN AUSTIN AND SONS, LTD.
PRINTERS, HERTFORD.

FOREWORD

This translation was undertaken at the suggestion of
Professor Margoliouth, and was almost completed when the
outbreak of the Great War consigned the MS. to a drawer
for five years.

Strangely enough, this War, which seemed to have
obliterated all other war-stories, has brought the places
mentioned by Ibn Iyas into fresh prominence; Damascus,
Hamah, Aleppo, and Homs, with Gaza and the routes from
Syria to Egypt, have become familiar to us in our daily papers.

The barbaric splendours and appalling cruelties in the
narrative seem to belong to remote times; as a matter of fact,
it was the age of Henry VIII and Francois I, of Charles V
and Luther, but the conquering Turk took no account of the
Renaissance or the Reformation. Even at the present time
the bulk of the nation seems to remain'much as it was four
centuries ago.

My best thanks are due to Professor Margoliouth, of Oxford,
and to Mr. C. A. Storey of the India Office for the kind help
they have given me in the solution of many difficulties.

W. H. Salmon.

57 Holland Park,

London, W.ll.

mi.

INTRODUCTION

URING the years which have elapsed since the trans¬

lator of the following pages undertook his task the
countries which the Sultan Selim I in his Eastern -campaigns
annexed to the Ottoman Empire have through the fortune
of war been withdrawn from it, and Egypt, after four centuries
of dependence, has again become the seat of a Sultanate.
These extraordinary events, which were not anticipated
when the work was begun, lend a special interest to a detailed
and contemporary account of the victory which brought
Egypt with its dependencies under Ottoman rule.

The story was told by von Hammer in his Geschichte des
Osmanischen Reiches 1 mainly after Turkish and European
authorities, and by G. Weil, in his Geschichte der Chalifen , 2
after Ibn Iyas and another contemporary Arabic account.
Zinkeisen in his admirable Ottoman history followed von
Hammer, and Sir W. Muir, in his Mameluke or Slave Dynasty
of Egypt, was dependent on Weil. The very brief account
in the latest Ottoman history on a large scale 3 rests apparently
on the statements of European witnesses.

The work of Ibn Iyas which Weil used in MS. was published
in three volumes at the Government Press, Boulak, a.h. 1311-
1312 1893-1895). It is called Bada’i‘ al-zuhur f i waqaii
al-duhur, and is one of four works by the same author, all of
which are preserved. 4 No biography of its author appears to
have been discovered, but a little can be gleaned from his
writings about his family and his career. 6 He informs us that
he was bom on Saturday 6 Rabfii, 852 (June 8, 1448), 6 so

1 Vol. ii, book xxiv, Pest, 1828.

2 Vol. v, chs. xxi, xxii, Stuttgart, 1862.

3 N. Jorga, Geschichte des Osmanischen Reiches, ii, pp. 336-41, Gotha,
1909.

1 Wustenfeld, Geschichtschreiber, No. 513 ; Brockelmann, ii, 295 ;
Vollers in Revue d'fiyypte, 1895, pp. 544-73.

5 See especially Vollers, l.c. 8 ii, 144.

Vlll

INTRODUCTION

that in 922, when the events recorded in the extract took place,
he was seventy (lunar) years old. His great-grandfather, the
Amir Izdomir ‘Umari Nasiri, known as the Khazindar, after
having been Amir Silal.i, was made by the Sultan Sha‘ban
viceroy of Tripoli. 1 Presently he was transferred to Ilalab,
and in 768 recalled and again made Amir Silal.i. 2 He was
imprisoned for a time during an emeute in Cairo, but was
released and appointed governor of Damascus, but died
before he could start in 771. 3 This person had originally been
a slave, and sold by the same merchant as the Amir Shaikho,
whom he succeeded as Am i r Silal.i in 757. Of his nishahs
Nasiri is likely to refer to the Sultan of that name, and Saifi
to his son the Sultan Saif al-din; he was then a Circassian
slave, purchased by the first of these sovereigns and
manumitted by the second. I bn Iyas appears to say nothing
of his father or grandfather, but mentions that his sister
was married to one Kurkmas, an Amir Akhur of the fourth
class, who was called ‘Ala’i, and died in battle in the year
877. 3 He names among his shaikhs the famous polygraph,
Jalal al-din SuyutI, for whom he appears to have felt no
great respect, 4 and ‘Abd al-Basit b. Khalil the Ilanefite,
whose history (preserved in MS.) he cites. 5 He himself
belonged to the same legal school, and had the honourable
title Zain al-din or Shihab al-din.

The Chronicle terminates at the end of 928, and its com¬
position seems to have occupied a number of years. Thus a
passage in II, 109, where it is stated that Ahmad b. Abi
Sa'id is still on the Timurid throne, must have been written
not later than 899, when the reign of that prince terminated, 6
and one of the existing MSS. bears a colophon, wherein the
author asserts that the volume was finished on 15 Muharram

1 i, 213, a.H. /64. For the titles in the text see Van Berchem,
Maliriaux pour un Corpus Inscriptionum, p. 451.

2 »> 221- » ii, 144.

* ii, 119, 271, 307, 339, 392.

’ i', 104, 105 ; Wiistenfeld, l.c., No. 508.

* Vollers seems to have overlooked this.

INTRODUCTION

IX

915 (May 5, 1509). 1 Fhis volume ends with the events of
912. For the period for which he is a contemporary authority,
his work consists in the main of a court circular, recording
the doings of the sovereign and the decorations which he
confers ; in this it resembles some of the chronicles of the
Moghul Emperors. Into this framework various memorabilia
are introduced, chiefly obituaries of distinguished men, but
also public calamities, the movements of the market, and
causes celebres ; to this last category belongs the discussion
of the orthodoxy of the poet Ibn al-Farid, which occupies
much space. At times contemporary verses, serious or
satirical, are inserted. The composition of the court-circular
must have been the busine^ of some official, as also the
preservation of the notices; it is possible that Ibn Iyas
himself was employed by the government to discharge these
duties, and this is rendered likely by the fact that he frequently
cites his own poems, some of them encomia on men in power,
which are likely to have been composed in some official
capacity.

There is one feature about his history which counts as a
defect with Oriental critics, 2 but as a merit among Western
scholars ; it is that it is written in a language which embodies
much of the vernacular of the time, and in consequence is of
value for the history of the Arabic language and the develop¬
ment of the Cairene dialect. Some of the expressions into which
the author drops are still characteristic of the patois of Cairo ;
many phrases not as yet registered in any dictionary appear
to be characteristic of the time. Some help for the under¬
standing of such of them as are political technicalities is
afforded by the two works on the Mamluk state which have
been published, but these leave much unexplained.

The suddenness wherewith the great Egyptian Sultanate
collapsed before the Ottoman arms is the most impressive
feature in the following narrative, and the explanation of it

1 Weil, l.o., V, vi. . ..

2 See Uurgi Zaidan’s Ta’rikh Adah al-lughah al-‘Arabiyyah, m, 298.

X

INTRODUCTION

is perhaps to be found in the genefal course of Egyptian
and Ottoman history rather than in the events which Ibn Iyas
here records. The Mamluk system produced a considerable
number of eminent rulers, and, indeed, the mode of appoint¬
ment was one calculated to bring talented men to the front.
Still their rule was foreign military occupation, which was
backed by no popular enthusiasm or loyalty. Ability to speak
the Arabic language appears to have been exceptional in the
case of these Sultans, whence the substitution of an Ottoman
Pasha only affected the bulk of the people in so far as Cairo
became the capital of a province instead of the metropolis
of an empire. In order to resist the Ottoman conqueror the
Egyptian Sultanate required able officers and trustworthy
troops. It so happened that it had neither.

The defeat of Marj Dabak is ascribed to the ill-feeling
between the two sets of Mamluks, the Karanisah and the
Jilban, of whom the Sultan was supposed to favour the latter.
Such jealousies between army corps are familiar in Muslim
history; but what was the character of these bodies ? It
would seem that the definition of the Karanls offered by
Khalil al-Zahiri is of little use for this question he says :
“ The karanls troops are those who migrated at an early
period, and are attached to the Holy Bureau, possessors of
ample stipends, designed for commissions, equal to com¬
manders of fives ; 1 2 their number was originally 100, but in
our time is smaller. They are called Ouloughlar.” Von
Hammer 3 infers from the texts that they were the lowest
class of mercenary; for the accession-money which they
received was on a certain occasion 30 ducats, whereas the
Jilban received 50 and the Mamluks 100. The name perhaps
occurs first in the Chronicle of Tangri-Bardi, 4 where it is stated
that in the year 802 the army divided into two parties, one

1 Zubdat Kashf al-ifamalik, ed. Ravaisse, p. 115 .

- This meant that each had a small court of five Mamluks. See
van Berchem, Corpus Inscnptionum, p. 543 n.

3 l.c., ii, 470 n. 4 Ed. Popper, vi, 15, 7.

INTRODUCTION

XI

siding with the Amir Itmish Bajasi, these being all the
greatest Amirs and the Karanls Mamluks, another with the
Amir Yashbak, these being the Amirs of the Khassikiyyah
and the Mamluks of the Atbak. In Ibn Iyas’s Chronicle
it is assumed that the reader knows the sense of this name,
and all that we can learn is that it is in antithesis to Jilban.
In 897, after a plague which had carried off great numbers,
the Sultan Kaietbai gave every one of his army, whether
Karanisah or Jilban, a horse that had belonged to one of the
deceased. 1 In 865 the Sultan Ahmad b. Inal on the occasion
of a Bedouin raid despatched against them a force wherein
he sent none of the Jilban Mamluks ; this greatly offended
the Karanisah, and they harboured mischief in consequence. 2
Now the form Jilban (for which Ajldb is occasionally sub¬
stituted) 3 appears to be connected with the verb jalaba in
the sense of importing a slave from a foreign country, which
is often used by Ibn Iyas in explaining the origin of a Mamluk
Sultan ; 4 the subject of the verb being in such cases the dealer.
The Jilban are at times called the Jilban of a particular
Sultan ; 5 whence it would seem that Khalil is right in defining
the Karanisah as early immigrants, though he seems to be
wrong for the period with which we are dealing in the matter
of their numbers and distinction. The etymology of the word
is far from clear; kurndz in Turkish is a familiar word for
“sly”, “cunning”, and might serve to describe “an old
campaigner ”. The practice of differentiating between
different classes of troops in the matter of accession-money
is said to have been introduced by the Sultan Inal in 857,®
who is charged by the historian with meanness in this
innovation; it is strange that the veterans should receive
less than the new arrivals. In any case we must reject von
Hammer’s division of the Egyptian army into Mamluks,
Jilban, who were in the main Abyssinian slaves, and
Karanisah, the lowest class of mercenaries. According to

1 ii, 277. 5 Ibid. 68, end. 5 Ibid. 77, 1. 3.

4 ii, 15, 24, 39 ; cf. infra, p. 64. 5 ii, 67.

6 ii, 41.

INTRODUCTION

xii

our authorities, the name Mamluk was common to all; and
if there was any superiority it lay with the Karanisah. In the
narrative of Ibn Iyas it is the Jilban who are constantly
rioting and giving trouble.

Of one other division of the army, mentioned in this extract,
Ibn Iyas has given a definition. This is the auldd al-nas,
whom he identifies with the halkah. 1 Some account of the
halkah is given in the Zubdat Kashf al-Mamdlik, 2 where their
numbers are stated to have been originally 24,000, chiefly
employed in garrison duty. It seems likely that their name
The children of the Men signifies that they were descendants
of Mamluks; and the interest which Ibn Iyas displays in
their welfare indicates that he was connected with such a
family. He thanks God on one occasion that their fiefs were
restored to them after they had been taken away. 3 The
Sultans seems to have been frequently tempted to disband
them; the Sultan Kaietbai adopted with them the plan by
which Penelope meant to get rid of her suitors ; a heavy
bow with a corresponding arrow was brought and all who were
unable to draw it were dismissed. 4

The death of a Circassian sovereign was regularly followed
by disorders, as there was no hereditary loyalty, and the
provincial governors regarded such an event as an opportunity
for the assumption of at least independence. The new Sultan
had to meet the demand for accession-money, frequently from
an empty treasury. Hence the death of the Sultan Ghiiri
on the field after a defeat by the mighty Selim was more fatal
to the Mamluk Empire than such a disaster would have been
to the Ottomans or any other government which had a
nation behind it.

For the topography of Cairo, to which there are many
allusions in this extract, reference should be made to the
admirable works of Casanova and Van Berchem, which leave
little unexplained. The Commentary of the latter on his

J i, 295.

2 p. 116.

3 ii, 47.

4 ii, 101.

INTRODUCTION

XIII

Corpus Inscriptionum explains with great skill and learning
most of the technicalities of the Mamluk court. 1 M. Blochet
in the preface to his translation of Makrizi 2 has drawn up a
list of 134 works, mostly unpublished, which deal with the
history of the Moslem Egypt and its dependencies; it is to
be hoped that the Egyptian Government, which has rendered
many valuable texts accessible, may arrange for the
publication of many more of those histories of the Mamluk
period which now lie scattered in various libraries, public
and private.

D. S. Margoliouth.

1 Since writing the above the author has learned that M. Van Berchem
passed away on March 21 of this year. He had no rival in his own field
of research.

2 Histoire d’Egypte de Makrizi , Paris, 1908.

TABLE OF COMPARATIVE DATES

a.h. 922 Muharrem a.d.
„ Safar
„ Rebi‘ i

„ ii

,, Jumada i

„ „ 'i

„ Rejeb
„ Sha'ban
„ Ramadan
„ Shawwal
„ Dhu’l Ka‘dah

„ „ Hijjah

1516 Tuesday, February 5.

, Thursday, March 6.

, Friday, April 4.

, Sunday, May 4.

, Monday, June 2.

, Wednesday, July 2.

, Thursday, July 31.

, Saturday, August 30.

, Sunday, September 28.

, Tuesday, October 28.

, Wednesday, November 26,
, Friday, December 26.

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

TJIHEN commenced the year a.h. 922 ; the first day of
the month Muharrem was a Monday. The Khalifah
at that time was the Amir of the Faithful, al-Mutewekkil
‘ala Allah Muhammed Ibn Amir al-Mu’minin al-Mustemsik
B illah Ya‘kub—may his honour be extolled ! The Sultan of
Egypt was al-Malik al-Ashraf Abu Nasr Kansuh al-Ghuri 1 —
may his victories be glorified.

*****

News was received in a.h. 922 of hostilities between
Shah Isma‘Il al-Sufl, ruler of the two ‘Iraks, and Selim Shah
Ibn ‘Othman, Sultan of Constantinople. The fighting had
apparently been begun in 920 by Shah Isma‘il al-Sufi’s
invading the territory of Selim Shah. When the news
reached the Sultan of Egypt, al-Ghuri, he deemed it necessary
to send an expedition to Aleppo and to accompany it himself,
with the intention of remaining there to watch the results of
the war between Shah Isma/il al-Su.fi 3 and Ibn ‘Othman, for
he was of opinion that whichever of the two came off victorious
would forthwith invade his Egyptian dominions.

[19] On Wednesday and Thursday, the 20th and 21st of
the first spring month, the Sultan al-Ghuri issued pay to the
rest of the troops, and on Saturday, 23rd, the Sultan paid all
the Karanisah 3 and imported Memlooks, and announced to
them in his private grounds that the expedition would leave
on the 1st of the following month. This caused some
confusion amongst the troops, and generally throughout
Cairo. Horses and mules became scarce, the Memlooks took
to raiding the mills, taking away their horses and mules and

1 In accordance with the practice of many Orientalists, I have spelt
the Memlook Sultan’s name “Kansuh al-Ghuri”. It is, however,
noteworthy that—as I have learnt since completing the translation—
on the page of a contemporary Ko’ran written for the Sultan himself
and reproduced on plate 83 of Moritz’s Arabic Palaeography, the name is
clearly written “ Kansauh al-Ghaurl”.

2 More commonly known as “ The Safawi ”, i.e. descended from Safi
al-Dln.

3 Vide Zubdat Keshf cU-Memalik (Ravaisse), p. 115.

1

2

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

old jades, in consequence of which all the mills closed down.
No bread or flour was obtainable in the markets, the people
were famishing and much distressed, and offered up many
prayers. The cloth markets also closed on account of the
Memlooks. The artisans and tailors concealed themselves,
and Cairo was given up to general confusion. Numbers of
merchants hid themselves for fear of the Memlooks, and many
slaves also, for fear of being compelled to go on the expedition.
It might have been the Day of Judgment in Egypt—every
man was exclaiming : “0 Lord ! save my soul! ”

The troops blamed the Sultan for all this excitement.
He did not act as other Sultans had done when they went on
expeditions, and in spite of it all there was nothing to justify
this great fuss and commotion. News had not come that
Ibn ‘Othman or his advanced troops had reached Aleppo,
neither had he invaded the Sultan’s territory. They also
blamed the Sultan for inspecting and paying the whole of
the troops in four days ; for they were afraid that this would
be reported in the dominions of Ibn ‘Othman and al-Sufi,
and that the troops would be deemed numerically insignificant
in consequence. They complained that there was no army
in Egypt, and that the covetousness of the enemy would be
excited when they heard this. But this was not correct, and
it all showed a bad state of affairs.

On the Saturday previously mentioned the Sultan sent
the chief Amirs their pay. He sent 5,000 dinars to Atabek
Sudun al-‘Ajemi, 4,000 each to Amir Arkmas, Amir Mejlis,
Amir Sudun al-Dawadari, chief of the guards, and to Amir
Anas Bai, chief chamberlain ; and 3,000 dinars to each of the
[20] chief Amirs not holding special appointments—but
what was this compared to what al-Ashraf Kait Bai used to
send to the chief Amirs when they went on expeditions
against Ibn ‘Othman. To Atabek Ezbek alone he had sent
30,000 dinars, and to Amir Temraz, Amir Silah 1 20,000 dinars,
and to the Amir Mejlis a similar sum ; as well as 10,000 dinars

1 “I« chef desofficiersqui portaientles pieces del’armure destinee au
Sultan, et qui les lui pr&entaient lorsqu’il en avait besoin” (Dozy).

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

3

apiece to all the other chief Amirs, which was considered
extraordinarily unusual. Al-Ashraf Kait Bai did this only in
his last expedition against Ibn ‘Othman in the year a.h. 895.
The total allowances of the Amirs, exclusive of the troops,
amounted to 100,000 dinars.

On the first day of the week, and the 24th day of the
month, the Sultan came down and went out to his college
at Sharabishiyin, where he remained until the afternoon,
and it was reported that he had inspected the storehouses
of the Queen-mother, whose possessions were there, and he
found that she had much property, including a large amount
of gold and silver specie, precious stones, costly clothing, and
other things.

On Monday, the 25th, the Sultan issued advances to the
Amirs of Tablkhanah, 1 and to the Amirs of Tens, summoning
each one separately, as if he had been paying wages. He
gave to each Amir of the former 500 dinars and to each of
the latter 200 dinars; but did not make any allowance to
the Khalifah, which was a source of much inconvenience to
the latter, who entreated some of the Amirs to lend him sums
of money on usury, and ran heavily into debt in consequence.
The Khalifah had never before accompanied the Sultan on an
expedition to Syria without an allowance. His baggage and
equipment on expeditions had usually been borne by the
Sultan, who allowed him 500 dinars as wages for his
followers; but this Sultan paid no attention to anything of
this kind, and was stingy towards him in the matter of
allowances, so that the Khalifah was hardly dealt with.

The Sultan then inspected the Karanisah Memlooks, the
old men and invalids, detailing some of them to his Sharkieh

1 “ Des tambours qui, joints a des trompettes et ad’autres instruments,
se faisaient entendre a plusieurs moments du jour a la porte des
souverains et des personnages eleves en dignite. Plusieurs emirs
jouissaient de cette prerogative, et pour cette raison, ehacun d'eux
prenait le titre de Amir Tablkhanah. Ils avaient sous leur commande-
ment quarante ou quatre-vingts cavaliers, et le mot en question a re£U
le sens de grade d’emir de quarante homines” (Dozy).

4

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

and Gharbleh provinces and to Upper Egypt, and compelling
them to go without allowances. They amounted to about
500 Memlooks.

On Tuesday, the 26th, the Sultan came down from the
citadel and went to Raidaniyyeh, and showed the Famishes
[sweepers] how to set up the royal tent during the expedition.
He also arranged for the quarters of the Amirs at Raidaniyyeh.
On the same day the Sultan instructed his son, the Grand
Master of the Horse, to make his preparations to start with
him. At first the Sultan commanded him to await his arrival
at Bab al-Silsilah; then he countermanded this and
commanded him to get his baggage ready for the expedition.

On Friday, the 29th, corresponding to the 6th of the Coptic
month Beshans, the Sultan took off his woollen garments and
changed into white linen clothing. This was the first Friday
since the death of the Sultan’s wife. He arranged a splendid
feast in her honour, at which the Khallfah, the four judges,
a number of the chief Amirs, and all the readers of the town
and the preachers were present. There were many people
present on that night at the Sultan’s college at Sharabishlym.

On Saturday, the 1st of the month RebT al-Akhir, the
Sultan sat in the Maidan ; the Khallfah and the four judges
came to offer congratulations on the new month, and then
returned to their homes. The same day the Sultan appointed
[21] the son of the late Mihtar Hasan, the Master of the Cellar
(of whose death mention has been made), to his father’s office.
On the 2nd he distributed to the imported Memlooks sets of
coloured silk horse clothing, helmets, shields, and sets of
bridles, steel stirrups, weapons, etc., from the armoury. The
Memlooks crowded round him and began helping themselves
to the fine clothing, and were not satisfied with what the
Sultan distributed ; he failed to pacify them that day, and at
that time they became extremely insolent.

A Wonder .—It was said that a woman gave birth to a boy
with two heads, four arms, and four legs; the Sultan was
amazed when he saw it. It was said that a similar portent
had appeared in the time of the Imam ‘All.

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OK EGYPT

5

Amongst the favours of Providence to the Faithful was
the cancelling of his order by the Sultan for the departure
of the Arabs, whom he had allotted to the Sharkieh and
Gharbieh provinces and to Upper Egypt. As before
mentioned the Sultan had decided to take with him on the
expedition a body of Arab cavalry to move in front of
the troops in war. So he summoned the Arab Sheikhs and the
overseers and instructed them to provide 500 mounted men,
or according to some 5,000.

They went all over the country imposing on each small
village the maintenance of two horsemen at 100 dinars, and 1
four on the larger villages at 200 dinars. When the Fellahm
of the districts heard of this they left their villages and their
crops and fled, so some of the villages became desolate in this
movement.

When the Amirs heard of this they went to the Sultan and
complained to him about this, and said : “ We are setting
out with you, and our villages are destroyed ; whence shall we
get food and give pay to our followers ? ” The Sultan was
put to shame by them, and ordered these doings to be stopped.
He issued imperial edicts to the overseers and Sheikhs of the
Arabs cancelling previous orders, and telling them to return
what had been taken from the Fellahm. The imperial edicts
reached the villages, and but for them the whole of Egypt
would have been devastated and overtaken by famine. God
be praised for this deliverance !

Among the events of this time was the exaction of money
by the Sultan from the daughter of Amir Khair Bey, Inspector
of the Gharbieh Province. She was the wife of Amir Tani Bey,
the treasurer and one of the chief Amirs, and was the person
implicated in the degrading affair before mentioned. When
the Sultan made a claim against her for a large sum of money,
he sent a number of eunuchs to demand this money. Upon
which she set to work to sell her dowry and all her stock and
other property. On the death of her father, Amir Khair Bey,
some enemies had accused her of taking property of his,

6

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

consisting of three jars containing a large sum of money.
The Sultan sent for her, and on her coming into his presence
questioned her about the matter. She denied it all, and swore
that she had never even seen these jars of gold which they
accused her of taking. The Sultan became angry with her,
and said : “ Have you forgotten your crime about the child
which they found with you ? ” He swore that unless she
produced her father’s property which she had taken he w’ould
drown her, and he meant to do it. She then set about selling
her dowry to pay the money demanded of her. On every
[22] Saturday and Tuesday ZeinI Berekat Ibn Musa and
a number of officials used to come and sell her clothing, just
as they would the effects of a deceased person.

An exactly similar thing had happened to the daughter of
Yashbek the Dawadar, the wife of Amir Kan Bai, Grand
Master of the Horse; she had money exacted from her, and
sold her dowry, her clothes, and her slaves like the property
of a deceased person, until she had paid all the money
demanded from her.

On Thursday, the 6th, the Sultan issued money in lieu of
three months’ rations to the expeditionary soldiers, in order
that they might amply provide themselves. He gave nothing
to those remaining behind in Egypt, but left it to the cooks
to provide for them in his absence. On that day the Sultan
sent his tents out to Raidaniyyeh, and his expedition to Syria
became a certainty. He announced to the troops in the
Maidan that every man who was ready, and had nothing
further to detain him, should start before the Sultan. Until
then the Sultan had not hoisted the standard which went in
front of the army when they took the field for Syria.

The flag used to be hoisted forty days before departure,
but the Sultan did not follow in the steps of former kino-s.
On this Thursday the Sultan sent 1,000 dinars for the
expenses of the expedition to the Amir of the Faithful,
Mubammed al-Mutewekkil ‘ala Allah, by the hand of
Husam al-Dln al-Alwahl, gatekeeper of Dahlshah. This was

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

7

done at the instigation of Amir Tuman Bai, Grand Dawadar 1 ;
had it not been for the latter nothing would have been sent him.

The Sultan also sent to the four judges to tell them to
make ready, but sent them no allowances, a source of much
annoyance and inconvenience to them ; for since al-Ashraf
Bars Bai’s expedition to Amed in a.h. 836 neither the
Khallfah nor the four judges had accompanied the Sultan to
Syria. But when they did go, it had been the custom to
provide them with their expenses. The Sultan did not do it
on this occasion.

A few days later the Sultan sent the Khallfah a sword
inlaid with gold, by one of the officials of the armoury—
Muhammed al-‘AdilI. It has already been mentioned that
he sent him a set of new glass. The total amount he had
received from the Sultan in gifts of gold and other valuables
amounted to less than 2,000 dinars, and the Khallfah’s
preparations for this expedition cost him 5,000 dinars or more.

On Friday, the 7th, a large body of the Sultan’s Memlooks
started for Syria, according to orders previously given.
A number of troops left barracks but did not start. On
that day the successor of Sldl Ahmed al-Badaw! appeared
before the Sultan in answer to a summons, who told him to
prepare to leave with him for Aleppo. He made excuses
that he was in a feeble state of health and was unable to start.
This vexed the Sultan, who insisted and would accept of no
excuse. He also sent to tell the successor of Sldl Ahmed
al-Rifa‘I, may the blessing of God be upon him, to accompany

1 “Sous la dynastiedes Mamloukson donnait ce titre adespersonnages
qui avaieut la fonction de faire arriver a leur destination les lettres
eraanees du Sultan, de lui faire parvenir les placets, et d’introduire
les ambassadeurs eb autres personnes aux audiences” (Dozy).

“ Besides the Grand Dawadar [the Amir Dawadar al-kablr] there was
also a second Dawadar with the rank of an Ainir of 40 Mamluks, a third
with the rank of an Amir of 20 Mamluks, and 10 Dawadars among the
bodyguard (khassiki) in Cairo and in each province. A Dawadar Sikkin
also is frequently mentioned ; according to Ibn Iyas’s account, his office
was to conduct the correspondence between the Sultan and his
Mamluks . . .” (M. Sobernheim).

8

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

him. Then when the judges felt sure that the Sultan was
going they set about getting ready, and detailed a large
number of deputy judges to accompany them, much to the
vexation of the latter. Moreover, the four judges imposed
[23] a certain sum of money on each of the deputies, fixed
according to each man’s station, which raised a fire of
indignation against the judges. The Sultan also dondemned
their conduct when he heard of it.

On this day the chief judge of the Shafi'i sect, Kemal al-Din
al-Tawil, led the people in the Friday prayers ; then he asked
for and obtained an audience of the Sultan, who was then
at Dahishah. At this audience he swore that he had not
appropriated any of the money levied on the deputies, but that
those of the deputies who had been detailed for the expedition
had said : “ Let us charge our expenses on the deputies
remaining in Egypt.” To this the Sultan replied : “ Do not
annoy any of the deputies, nor take them by force, but those
who are prepared to go of their own free will, let them go,
but use no compulsion.” Thus was this odious conduct
put a stop to, for which—Praise be to God. A number of
deputies had already set about selling their furniture and
books, and had incurred losses in consequence of the demand
for money.

The like of this did not happen to the judges and their
deputies when al-Ashraf Bars Bai set out for Amed.

On the same date the Sultan inspected the household
slaves, the Farrashes, the gatekeepers, the stablemen, the
stonemasons, the cellarmen, the armourers, the firemen,
and others. He summoned Amir ‘ Alam al-Din, who had charge
of those who played the drums and fifes, and required him to
spend his own money on the men going with him. The Sultan
said : “ You have been living on the proceeds of this office
for a number of years, so pay for these men out of your own
pocket, otherwise we have some one to succeed you who will
do so.” Then he paraded the “ singers of the bench (?) ”,
namely, Ahmed Abu Sena, al-Mubaujib, and al-MahlawI,

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

9

and ordered them to start with him. He detailed a number of
carpenters and stonemasons, inspected them, and issued
four months’ wages only, without any allowance for rations,
saying : “You have been living on State wages for so many
years, and when it is my will that you should go on an
expedition you ask me for ration allowances.”

Meantime, Shems al-Dln al-Zarif, registrar of the Kor’an
readers, selected a number of readers, preachers, and mu’ezzins,
and ordered them to proceed with the Sultan, as the judges
had done with their deputies.

On Sunday, the 9th, ‘Ajemi al-Shenkji, the Sultan’s mess¬
mate, who had been with elephants to the Governors of
Damascus and Aleppo, arrived at the Palace gates ; he had
been away such a long time that he had been reported dead
more than once. It seemed that the Sultan had sent him on
a secret mission to Shah Isma‘11 al-Sufl; at least, this was the
common talk.

On Tuesday, the 10th of Rebr al-Akhir, the Sultan’s
military cortege 1 was ordered to set out from the Maidan
before sunrise, and followed the route from the Rumailah
by Iladarat al-Bakar and the Sallbah.

It consisted of fifteen led dromedaries with gold-
embroidered numnahs; three hundred horses, of which
[24] a hundred had caparisons of steel chased with gold ; and
some (of the horses) with velvet of different colours ; three
horses with gold-embroidered numnahs and saddles inlaid
with gold ; and three pairs of horses with Bedouin saddles and
drums. There were also in the cavalcade twenty-four litters
with glossy yellow silk coverings, and two velvet litters on
mules also with yellow silk coverings, six treasure cases with

1 “Tulb, pi. Atlab, est, selon Macrizi, an mot qui dans la langue des
Curdes designe un emir commandant qui a un drapeau rouU et une
trompette que Ton sonne au besoin ; il a sous ses ordres un nombre de
deux cents, cent ou soixante et dix cavaliers. Introduit en Egypte et
dans la Syrie sous le lAgne de Saladin et de ses successeurs, ce terme y
a regu le sens de corps de troupes plus ou moins nombreux, commande
par un officier superieur, bataillon ” (Dozy).

10

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

the same hangings; five well-bred horses, two of which
carried horse-cloths, gilt stirrups, saddles of crystal and gold
mosaic, and drums of crystal and gold ; two mares with gold-
embroidered horse-cloths, gilt bits, and saddles, the latter
with gold hangings ornamented with gold crescents instead
of birds.

Riding with the procession were a certain number of Amirs
of Tens wearing muslin turbans, and some eunuch servants,
also riding. There were a number of officials, including the
Kadi Mahmud Ibn Aja, Private Secretary ; the Kadi Mul.iyi
al-Din al-Kasrawi, Inspector of Troops ; the Kadi ‘Ala al-Din
Ibn al-Imam “ Nazir al-Khas ” ; the Kadi Shihab al-Din
Ahmed Ibn al-Ji‘an, Private Secretary; and the Kadi
Abu al-Baka, Inspector of Stables; the Kadi Berekat Ibn
Musa, Inspector of Markets ; the Kadi Sharaf al-Din al-Saghir,
Secretary of the Memlooks and Government Inspector ; and
al-Sherefi Yunus al-NabulusI, and the Kadi Kerim al-Din
Ibn al-Ji‘an, the princes, and other leading officials. Then
came the Royal Standard, the cymbals, and the Sultan’s and
Khalifah’s standards ; there were in the procession four drums
and four fifes and ten loads of treasure cases—there were
usually forty loads.

The Sultan’s procession went out by the Rumailah Gate,
the troops were drawn up, and a vast concourse of people
to see it. But when the procession "passed the people were
not pleased ; they thought there were not enough horses,
and one who had seen the procession of al-Ashraf Bars Bai
when he went to Amed said that he had 400 gorgeously
caparisoned horses with horse-armour, coloured velvet,
and steel. Some preferred the procession of Yashbek, the
Dawadar (when he went against Shah Suwar), to that of the
Sultan, giving preference to the former. It went down by
the Vizir’s Gate, and came in through the Zawilah Gate, and
went right through Cairo ; it was observed as a high day, and
all Cairo was in excitement over it.

The procession wound along till it emerged at the

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

11

Bab al-Nasr, and went on to the royal camp at Raidaniyyeh.
On that day the baggage of Amir al-Mu’minln al-Mutewekkil
‘ala Allah left, having in front of him two drums and fifes and
a trumpeter. Nothing started on that day but the Sultan’s
procession. It was customary of old for the Sultan to follow
in the rear of the procession, followed again by troops com¬
manded by the Amirs ; but he departed from the customs of
former kings in many respects. For instance, he did not
hoist the standard over the band quarters as did former kings.
They used to hoist the standard, parade the troops, and then
make a distribution of money for the expedition ; the standard
used to fly until the Sultan departed, even if it were after an
interval of two months.

It was related of al-Zahir Berkuk that when he went out
against Tlmurlenk, his procession left by the Maidan Gate,
and that he himself arranged the order of it.

The Sultan was mounted carrying an axe in his hand,
[25] and rode backwards and forwards from the Maidan
Gate to al-Suwwah. It was said that former Sultans departed
for Syria when the sun was in the sign of Aries, in early
spring, during the moist season. But al-Ghuri left when
the heat was extreme and the sun in the sign of Cancer.
So the troops suffered great hardships on the j ourney. Neither
was it the ancient custom that the Sultan should traverse
Cairo on his way out, but that he should go out by Suwwah
and traverse Cairo on his return—but this Sultan took his
own line in everything.

On Thursday, the 13th, it was the common talk that one of
the Sultan’s imported Memlooks named Janem al-Ifranjl
(the European), a rapacious spendthrift (who left with the
first detachment of the royal Memlooks before the departure
of the Sultan), was seizing everything he could lay his hands
on, and molesting the people on his way. When the Sultan
heard of this, he gave orders to the police that he should be
arrested and hanged on the spot without trial. It was said
that they did arrest him and hang him on a tree at Belbeis

12

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

in his uniform and wearing his sword, bow, and quiver.
They put his servants in irons and brought them to
Maksharah.

On Friday, the 14th, the Sultan came down from the
citadel, went to Karafah, and visited the tombs of the
Imam al-Shafi‘i and the Imam al-Laith, with his son, the
Grand Master of the Horse. It was said that the Sultan spent
a considerable sum in charity on that day. The Sultan’s
baggage and that of the Amirs left for Raidaniyyeh.

On Saturday, the 15th, the Sultan and Malik al-Ashraf
Abu al-Nasr Kansuh al-Ghuri left for Syria and Aleppo.
It was long since the people had seen a Sultan start for these
countries in this manner, never since al-Ashraf Bars Bai
al-‘Ala’i set out for Amed, in the year a.h. 836, about 87 years
earlier.

On the morning of this Saturday the remainder of the
Amirs assembled with the Sultan in the Maidan, in full-
dress uniform, and on that day the Sultan conferred a robe
of honour on Amir Erkmas Ibn Tara Bai Amir al-Mejlis and
appointed him Keeper of the Armoury, which office had been
vacant since the appointment of al-Amir Sudun al-‘Ajemi to
the office of Atabek. ,

The number of chief Amirs who were detailed for personal
attendance on the Sultan was fifteen; nine remained behind
in Cairo.

* * * * *

[26] At sunrise on Saturday, the 15th, the troops of the
Amirs, forming the Sultan’s personal escort, moved off in
the following order :—

(1) The Corps commanded by Amir Kurt Bai, one of the

chief Amirs, and formerly Governor of Cairo.

(2) The Corps commanded by Amir Ak Bai al-Tawil,

2nd Master of the Horse, one 'of the members of
the Court.

(3) The Body-guard under Amir Tani Bey, the Treasurer.

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

13

(4) The Body-guard under Amir Abrak al-Ashrafi, one of

the members of the Court.

(5) The Body-guard under Amir ‘Allan Ibn Karaja,

2nd Dawadar, one of the Court.

(6) The Corps under Amir Baibars, a relation of the Sultan.

(7) The Corps under Amir Jan Balat, known as Muwattir.

(8) The Corps under Amir Kansuh Kurt.

(9) The Corps under Amir Tamr al-Hasani, known as the

Zardkash.

(10) The Corps under Amir Kansuh Ibn Sultan Chirkes.

(11) The Corps under Amir Anas Bai Ibn Mustafa. Chief

Chamberlain.

(12) The Corps under Amir Sudun Dawadari, Chief of the

Corps of Guards.

(13) The Corps under the Sultan’s son, al-Nasir Muhammed,

Grand Master of the Horse.

(14) The Corps under Amir Erkmas Ibn Tara Bai Amir

Mejlis, who had been appointed Amir Silah.

(15) The Corps under the Atabek Sudun Ibn Jani Bey,

known as al-‘Ajemi. His corps was remarkable

for splendour and good order.

When the last of these corps had passed the Sultan himself
left by the Stable Gate near the steps. He was preceded
by the royal trumpeter, named Burghashi. The Sultan’s
cavalcade was magnificent; rarely has it been equalled in
splendour. At the head of it came the three elephants,
gorgeously caparisoned, then came the victorious troops in
full-dress uniform, followed by the Amirs, who were chiefs of
the guard, carrying staves with which to keep back the people.
After these came the Amirs of the Tablkhanah and all the
Amir s of Tens, then the executive officials.

*****

[27] There were also present in this cavalcade the dis¬
tinguished brothers of the Sherif Berekat, Amir of Mecca;
these went in front of the Chief Amirs. Then came all the

14

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

chief Amirs, with whom was the Sultan’s son, His Highness
al-Nasir, Grand Master of the Horse, and by his side was the
Atabek Sudun al-'Ajeml. Then followed the four judges of
the Shafi‘I Hanefi, MalikI, and Hanball sects. Then came the
Khallfah, wearing the Baghdad turban with two ribbons,
and a Ba'lbec coat with black silk embroidery. He did not
have the Khalifah's flag held above him; he had curtailed
many customs observed by former Khallfahs who were
kinsmen of his.

Then came the Sultan’s led horses, consisting of a pair
with sugar-loaf headgear, and saddles with yellow silk
coverings and side-drums ; another pair had saddle-cloths
and gilded saddles with gold-embroidered coverings. Some
of the horses had saddles of crystal inlaid with gold, and
studded with agate stones, set in silver. A body of chiefs of
the Guard followed on foot carrying axes. There were before
them neither tents nor royal flute-players as was customary
in these royal cavalcades. Then came the baggage and boxes,
and the garment cases covered with yellow silk, and the
incense-bearer on foot with the censer ahead of him, followed
by the Sultan al-Malik al-Ashraf Kansuh al-Ghuri—may he
ever be victorious.

He was preceded by the Khallfah about twenty paces in
front of him. The Sultan rode a bay horse with numnah
and gold saddle, wearing a cap and a white Ba'lbec coat
embroidered with a wide border of gold on black silk ; it
was said to have in it five hundred miskals of gold. That day
was one of great splendour, a magnificent sight. The Sultan
was handsome, and a fine figure in a procession.

Thus the Sultan advanced with the royal flag held over
him, immediately behind him being the Chief Memlook,
Sunbul al-‘0thmanl. He was accompanied by the armour-
bearers in uniform, and a great number of his suite and
jemadars.

He entered Cairo by the Zawllah Gate and passed through
[28] the streets. All Cairo trembled at his presence on that

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

15

day, the townsfolk greeted him with prayers for his welfare,
and the women cheered him from the windows. The Sultan
marched in that cavalcade until it came out by the Bah al-Nasr
Gate, and it was a gala day.

Then the camp at Raidaniyyeh was reached. On the
following day chests were brought down containing the gold
and silver, each chest containing gold in coin to the amount
of 1,000 dinars, in addition to other metals. The treasury
was depleted of all the money which had been, collected since
the commencement of this Sultan’s reign, up to the date of
the departure of this expedition. Moreover, a complete
clearance was made of all the other storehouses, including
articles of intrinsic value and highly wrought weapons collected
by former Sultans, gilded saddles inlaid with crystal and agate ;
also gold-embroidered numnahs, crystal and enamelled drums,
embossed sets of horse-armour, gold-embroidered camel
saddles, and other royal treasures.

In charge of the chests were a party of treasury clerks and
officials in uniform. These chests were borne on fifty camels ;
then came the armoury borne on a hundred camels, preceded
by two drummers and fifers and instruments of military music
mounted on camels. All these went on to the camp.

On Sunday, the 16th, the Sultan caused it to be proclaimed
in Cairo that the army would advance on Friday, the 21st,
that every expeditionary soldier must be present on that day,
and that no excuse of any kind for absence would be accepted.

When the Sultan had established himself in camp, he
appointed a number of the deputies of the chief judges to
accompany him on the expedition.

*****

[29] He also had with him a great number of builders,
carpenters, and blacksmiths, as was customary, and the Chief
Sheikh with his troops and flags and drums. He led the
Sultan’s cavalcade on its entry into Damascus, in accordance
with the ancient custom on expeditions.

16

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

On the 18th, 19th, and 21st there left a number of Amirs
[names omitted] with their Memlooks, said to number
944 men. The Karanisah Memlooks, the imported Memlooks,
[30] and those born in the country numbered five
thousand.

This was the report; Heaven only knows the truth of it.

It was said that some two thousand of the Karanisah
Memlooks, with the unfit, the Sheikhs, the Imported Memlooks,
and those born, in the country, remained behind in Cairo, in
the barracks and in the citadel.

While the Sultan was in camp at Raidaniyyeh, a letter
arrived from the Governor of Aleppo, telling him that
Ibn ‘Othman had sent a messenger with a letter, which he now
forwarded to the Sultan by the same messenger. It was
expressed in pleasant terms to the following purport. After
calling the Sultan his father and offering prayers for his welfare,
Ibn ‘Othman asserted that he had not encroached upon the
dominions of ‘All Dolat except with his (the Sultan’s)
permission, and that he had rebelled against him. That it
was he who had stirred up the ancient hostility between his
father (Ibn ‘Othman’s ?) and the Sultan Kait Bai, which led
to what had happened, and had caused the greatest miscluef
in his (the Sultan’s) country, so that his death was entirely
justified. As to Ibn Suwar, who had succeeded ‘All Dolat,
if the Sultan thought fit to retain him, or to replace him,
the matter rested entirely with him. As to the merchant
importers of Circassian Memlooks, Ibn ‘Othman said he had
not stood in their way, but that they had complained of their
treatment as regards their payment in gold and silver, and
had refused to bring the Memlooks over. He further said
that he was prepared to return to the Sultan the dominions
he had taken from ‘All Dolat, and would do whatever the
Sultan desired.

Upon this the Sultan summoned the leading Amirs and
read to them Ibn ‘Othman’s letter, the contents of which
greatly pleased both them and the Sultan and aroused in

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

17

their minds a feeling that peace and an early return to their
homes were at hand.

But as facts showed later, this was nothing but a piece of
trickery and deception on the part of Ibn ‘Othman in order to
achieve his objects.

The next day there arrived in Cairo the Amir Inal Bai,
Dawadar Sikkln, who had gone to Aleppo to obtain news of
Ibn ‘Othman. On his arrival he found that the Sultan had
already started on the expedition, and had left Cairo. He
reported that Ibn ‘Othman’s messenger had arrived at
Aleppo, that he was desirous of peace, and had sent numerous
presents to Inal Bai there.

As to the Sultan’s doings in camp, the night of his departure
from Raidaniyyeh he conferred a robe on Tuman Bai, the
Dawadar, and appointed him Regent in Cairo during his
absence. He also conferred a robe of honour on the Kadi
Berekat Ibn Musa, and appointed him Inspector of Markets
in the place of Amir Mamai during his absence. He made
ZeinI Berekat Ibn Musa adviser on all Imperial questions.

On the same night lighted torches were brought, and
a spark blew from them on to the Sultan’s tent, and one side
of it was burnt; the people did not regard this as a good omen
for the Sultan.

[31] When ZeinI Berekat Ibn Musa entered Cairo he became
a most important personage. He represented the Sultan, and
became controller of the affairs of the country, and the Amir
Dawadar Kebir was as a screw in his hand to be turned
what way he would.

On that night the Sultan also conferred a robe of honour
on Amir Elmas, appointing him Governor of Cairo, charging
him with its protection and to abstain from tyranny. He
gave a robe of honour to the Amir Mamai, the Inspector of
Markets, and ordered him to go with him to Aleppo. The
Amir Dawadar left the Sultan’s presence and returned to
Cairo, passing through the Salibah 1 with a great cavalcade,

1 A “ Salibah ” is a technical name for an Egyptian irrigation bank.

2

18

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

with criers in front of him proclaiming security to the people
and the continuance of trade. No one was to walk about in
the evening carrying arms ; the molestation of tradesmen by
Memlooks and slaves was forbidden. Men were to come for
redress of grievances to the Gate of the Dawadar ; the people
shouted and made prayers for him. The Dawadar was beloved
by the people and by the poor, and rarely did harm to anyone.
Thus he made his way along the Salibah, in the midst of a great
cavalcade with runners and water-carriers and crowds of
people—with the royal followers and Memlooks in front of
him, and made his way to the residence. Then I said :—

Creation has been honoured by the Regent, whose word
is law ;

Noble, brave in the fields of battle, a fine horseman,

Victorious in battle with sword and lance.

If a wronged one complains to him of his wrongs,

The light of his justice arises for him,

Promising that morning will appear ;

Lord, be his helper and protector in all the changes and chances
of this life,

And spare Ibn Musa to his subjects ;

A second Moses, pure-hearted, a security against sorcery,

A noble gentleman, then Inspector of Markets, he was born
on the night of al-Kadr.

On account of his godliness he has regard for the noble Seyyids,
And thus obtained a great heavenly reward ;

He has become Director of the Food supplies,

The point of his lance pierces the necks of his enemies.

A Pharaoh in Egypt, he has acquired the fortune of Yusuf.

I seek protection for him through the Surahs of the Kor’an,
After the Stars, the Light, and the Day of Resurrection.

On Saturday, the 22nd, the Sultan left the royal camp at
Raidaniyyeh, accompanied by the Khalifah, the four judges,
his son, His Highness al-Nasir, Grand Master of the Horse,
and Ak Bai al-Tawil, Second Master of the Horse.

He said the morning prayers and left for Khankah Siriakus,
having remained seven days in the camp. He halted a day

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

19

and a night at the monastery of Siriakus, and left on Sunday,
the 23rd. On Monday, the 24th, a third instalment of wages
was issued to the troops who had stayed behind in Egypt.
Amir Takt Bai sat at the steps, and the wages were distributed
in his presence; it was the first payment of wages in the
absence of the Sultan. The same day the Amir Dawadar
gave orders to the leading Amirs whom the Sultan had
appointed to the Sharkieh and Gharbieh provinces to leave
for their posts' and to protect the countries from devastation
by the Arabs. So Tani Bey left for the Sharkieh and Ezbek,
the gunner, for the Gharbieh province. Al-Amir Kansuh
al-Fajir went to Menufiyyeh, al-Amir Kansuh Abu Sena
to [32] al-Buhairah. Bakhsh Bai had gone to the Fayyum
to see about the construction of a dam there.

Then the Dawadar issued a proclamation in Cairo to all
the Royal Memlooks who had been detailed for the Dominions
that they should accompany these Amirs, and that none should
remain behind, and they complied with his orders.

On Monday, the 24th, Amir Nauruz, Tajir al-Memalik, one
of the Amirs of the Tablkhanah died. He was originally one
of Ashraf Kait Bai’s Memlooks. He had become very big
and heavy, and was so fat he could hardly move, and he
remained in this condition until he died.

It was reported that the Sultan bestowed upon his Memlook
Mamai, whom he appointed to the Censorship, the baggage
of Nauruz, his horses, mules, and tents. At least, that was
what was commonly said.

The same day the sky became black with clouds, there was
thunder, lightning, and torrents of rain. This happened on
the 1st of the Coptic month Baunah. The rain continued
for three days on end; it was considered quite a marvel.
This was succeeded by violent winds and the sky became
quite yellow at sunset. The people drew evil omens from this,
of revolutions, which actually did take place later on. The
same day news came from the Sultan that when he started
from the monastery a man was found in his tent who was

20

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

thought to be an assassin, sent by ‘Alam al-Din, the Sultan’s
barber, who had incurred his displeasure, as previously
mentioned. The enemies of ‘Alam al-Din said that he had
sent that fanatic to kill the boy named ‘Abd al-Razzak, who
had become barber to the Sultan in the stead of ‘Alam al-Din.
The man, who was thought to be a fanatic, was arrested and
brought before the Sultan, who tried to make him confess,
but he denied and was ordered to be hanged.

Then the Sultan sent to Elmas, Governor of Cairo, to arrest
‘Alam al-Din and his relations, and to hang him on his own
gate. When ‘Alam al-Din heard of this he fled from his home
and hid himself. Then the Vali arrested a number of Syces
who were relations of ‘Alam al-Din and put them in irons.
Some said that they had been hanged in Maksharah, or
imprisoned till the Sultan should return.

Previous to this stores of chaff and bran belonging to
the Amirs had been burnt to the value of about two
thousand dinars. This was put down to some of the Syces,
relations of ‘Alam al-Din the barber—for if an animal is
once down every one digs his knife into him. Persistent
search was made for ‘Alam al-Din the barber’s capture, and
it was said that the Vali, on the flight of ‘Alam al-Din, sent
his Memlooks, in full uniform, to search for him, but without
success.

On Friday, the 28th of Rebi 1 al-Akhir, the Dawadar left
in order to see about repairing the dams at al-Faid and
Abu Manja, which the guardians had failed to block up. The
Nile had risen before orders had been issued on the subject, and
had reached a height of 12 cubits. The Daw T adar took the
utmost trouble to close the sluices, boats were broken up
under these two sluices, and still the water was uncontrolled ;
till ht last God came to the rescue, and the Nile receded.

During the month of Jumada al-ula, Amir Mamai al-
Saghir, the Inspector of Markets, joined the Sultan. He had
with him a little lad of 13 called Kasim Jbn Ahmed Bey Ibn
Abu Yazid Ibn ‘Othman, nephew of Selim Shah Ibn ‘Othman.

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

21

When the latter’s brother, Ahmed Bey (the boy’s father), was
killed, his son Kasim fled with his tutor, and went to Aleppo
in disguise, and then came to Egypt and lived there until the
[33] Sultan left for Syria, when he took him with him for
reasons of his own, but no good came of it. The lad went out
with Mamal, with led horses before him. Moreover, the Sultan
had provided him with an outfit and about 2,000 dinars,
hoping that the boy’s fame might be heard of in the Dominions
of Ibn ‘Othman, and that it might be said that there was one
of Ibn ‘Othman’s family in Egypt, a male child. The Sultan
thought that the troops of Ibn ‘Othman, on hearing this,
would desert and come over to him, but nothing came of it.

The lad Kasim passed along the Salibah wearing a Turkoman
turban, a royal dagger in his belt, and was said to have a
ruby ear-ring. He was accompanied by a number of Osmanlis,
Amir Mamai, and Inal Bai. The latter was Dawadar Sikkin,
who had come from Syria, and had been ordered by the Sultan
to return a second.time, and to go with him to Aleppo.

Amongst the things that happened during the absence of
the Sultan, Amir Elmas, Governor of the Police, took to
making levies on the people for the construction of roads in
various' quarters. They made one road at the top of the
Bran Market, one in Ilusseiniyyeh, and another over Kantarah
al-Hajib. A road was also made at Farayin, and at al-Maks,
and several others elsewhere, and they blocked up a number
of the wicket gates in Cairo. He ordered a lamp to be hung
up outside every shop, and none were to leave their houses
after dark, nor to carry arms. It was a matter of interest
that the Dawadar did not disturb any of the Aulad al-Nas, nor
compel them to live in the citadel during the Sultan’s absence.

It was customary, when the Sultan went to Syria, for the
guardians of the citadel to tyrannize over the Aulad al-Nas
and to compel them to spend every night in the citadel. This
was an annoyance, and an extreme fatigue to the men, having
to climb up every night, and a long way from their homes in
the winter. Any man who failed to go himself had to provide

22

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

a substitute. This was done till the days of Ashraf Ka.it Bai.
It was recorded amongst the good acts of the Dawadar, and
the people blessed him for abolishing this odious custom.

Another incident in the Sultan’s absence was that one of
the imported Memlooks wanted to buy corn from a ship by
the river bank and could not find a porter. Finding one of
the fellalun of the Sa‘id with a donkey and a sack, he tried
to take them from him. This led to a quarrel, during which
the Memlook struck the fellah a severe blow on the head
which drew blood, and the man threw himself into the river
and was drowned. This brought a crowd round the Memlook,
whom they seized and took to the Dawadar’s house, where he
was put in irons and sent to the Vail. When his comrades
heard of this they went to the Dawadar’s house ; they found
he was away at the dam of al-Faid seeing about its being
[34] blocked up. The Memlooks were told that the Dawadar
had handed over the Memlook to Elinas the Vail. Thereupon
a great number of the imported Memlooks came down from
their quarters with a view to plundering and burning the
Vail’s house and releasing the Memlook. The Dawadar,
however, took no further notice of that murder, and no more
was heard of it.

The following event took place during the absence of the
Sultan : One of the eunuchs named ‘Amber, chief of the
Ashrafi order, who lived in the ruins of Tatar (?), and was
supposed to be wealthy (?), and had in his possession con¬
signments of pay for the Memlooks, was attacked at nig ht,
whilst asleep in his house, by thieves, who beat him on the
head with jelabahs till he died. They carried off everything,
and killed his male and female slave, making no disturbance
whatever. Amir Takt Bai, Governor of the Citadel, was
completely at a loss to understand how this could have
happened right in the heart of the citadel, when the gates
were locked after sunset ; it was considered quite an extra¬
ordinary occurrence.

On Tuesday, the 9th, a chief Kadi of the Shafi‘1 sect died ;

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

23

he was called Kalkashandi. May the Lord have mercy
upon him ! He was a holy man of learning and excellence,
well versed in the traditions. He filled the office of Kadi
twice during the reign of Ashraf al-Ghurl. He was very old,
nearly 90 ; he was one of the most distinguished scholars of
the Shafi‘1 sect. May God have mercy upon him!

On the same day came news of the arrival of the Sultan
at Salih iyyeh on Tuesday, the 25th Rebi‘ al-Akhir, and it
was said that when about to leave there he gave permission
to the Khalifah and the four judges to go forward as far as
Gazah.

When he reached Katlya 1 he was met by Amir Kansuh
Rajlah, Governor of Katiya, where he was hospitably enter¬
tained and given (it was said) many presents.

Amongst stories circulated during the march was that a
mule belonging to the Hanefi Kadi was stolen, but was
recovered with the aid of a gift; also that a bundle containing
the Hanbali Kadi’s clothes was stolen from his tent; and
that a camel laden with money belonging to the Sultan was
stolen, but the culprits were arrested, and three camel-
drivers were cut in two. None of these reports were verified.

Then came news of the entry of the Sultan into Gazah on
Thursday, the 4th, where he was met by the Governor,
Amir Dolat Bai, hospitably entertained, and offered numerous
presents. He was said to have stayed there five days, and
then to have moved on.

The Sultan when at Gazah was said to have decorated
Jemal al-Din al-Alwahi, Janitor of Dahishah, and to have
appointed him chief teacher in the place of Shihabi Ahmed
Ibn TulunI, who had been removed from that office. This
appointment may be regarded as one of the mistakes of the
time, he being unsuitable for the post.

On Friday, the 19th, came Ibn Abu al-Raddad with news
that the Nile was found, on measurement, to have reached
12 cubits, which was considered extraordinary, within
1 The town still exists on the road to Palestine.

24

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGVI'T

6 cubits of a full Nile, according to Makrlzl in bis topographical
dictionary; Sheikh Suyuti, in his book entitled Kaukab
al-Raudal, gave it as 24 inches more. Since the time of
Nasir Mubammed Ibn Kalaun it had not been known to reach
12 cubits ; during his time, in the year a.h. 761, it did reach
12 cubits. The full Nile was on the 6th of Misra. The rise
[35] in that year reached nearly 24 cubits; the people suffered
considerable loss in consequence, and prayed for its fall. It
eventually subsided at the end of the month Tut. During
the reign of Ashraf Bars Bai, in the year a.h. 838, the Nile
rose 11 cubits 10 inches, and reached its full height on the
2nd of Misra. The people thought that the Nile would cover
the land during the sowing season, beyond its proper time ;
but everything turned out prosperously that year, and the
Nile reached its maximum height at the proper time. Mention
will be made of this in its own place.

On Saturday, the 27th, the death occurred of Amir Jani
Bey ; he was one of the Amirs entitled to a band, and was one
of the Memlooks of Ashraf Kait Bai; he was an excellent man.

In the same month a new coinage was issued and the old
one cancelled. The value of the old coins was proclaimed at
two Nisfs to the Rati, and that of the new coins as marked
upon them. The affairs of the people came to a standstill.

On Tuesday, the 1st, a number of Deputy Judges and nobles
proceeded to the Dawadar’s house to offer him their con¬
gratulations on the new month.

News came of the Sultan’s entry into Damascus on Tuesday,
the 8th; he was met by Amir Bars Bai, Governor of Syria.
The Sultan entered with a numerous cavalcade, preceded by
the Khalifah, the four judges, and the chief Amirs, the Amirs
of Tablkhanah, the Amirs of Tens, the principal office-holders,
the executive officials, a strong body of troops, and many
others.

He was met by the Amirs and troops of Syria. He had
over his head the dome-shaped umbrella as used by ancient
kings. The city of Damascus was splendidly decorated in his

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

25

honour, and the trumpets of good tidings were sounded
for him in the bitadel. Certain European merchants showered
gold and silver over his head, and Si Bai spread silk hangings
for his horse to walk over. But the Memlooks so crowded
upon him in their greed for the gold and silver that the Sultan
nearly fell off his horse, so much was he jostled by the people.
So he stopped the scattering of gold and silver and the
spreading of silk hangings under his horse’s feet. It was in
truth a gala day in Damascus, one to be long remembered.
The procession made its way into Damascus by the Gate of
Victory, out into the open plain as far as the Stone Seat
(Mastabah), known as the Sultan’s Stone Seat, at Kabun
al-Kakuni. The Sultan ordered one of his chamberlains to
rebuild it, as it had fallen to pieces through lapse of time.

There had not been a procession on this scale between the
days of Ashraf Bars Bai, when he went to Syria in the year
a.h. 836, and that of Malik al-Ashraf Kansuh al-Ghuri.

The Sultan spent nine days at the Mastabah at al-Kabun.
It was said that Kadi Kemal al-Dln al-Tawil preached at the
Mosque of Beni Umeyyah on two Fridays, and that the Sultan
did not attend the Friday prayers there. The decorations at
Damascus were kept up for seven days ; after that the Sultan
started for Iloms, and then moved thence and went to
[36] Hamah. He was there met by the Governor Jan Bird!
al-Ghazali, who was said to have entertained him in an even
more princely fashion than did the Amir of Damascus.
Accor ding to rumour the Sultan quartered there Kasim Bey
Ibn Ahmed Ibn ‘Othman, previously mentioned as having
started with Amir Mamai, the Inspector of Markets, from Egypt.

It was said that on Monday night, the 14th of this month,
there was a terrible eclipse of the moon, 1 the earth being
completely darkened. The eclipse lasted more than fifty
minutes ; the entire orb of the moon was darkened, and
remained so till the last third of the night.

On Monday, the 14th, the Dawadar gave orders for an

1 See Oppolzer’s Canon der Mondfinaternisse, p. 367, where this eclipse
is recorded.

26

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

Arab criminal to be hanged on the Kantarah al-IIajib. The
affairs of Egypt were extremely well directed by the Dawadar
during the Sultan’s absence. He instructed Amir Elmas,
Governor of Cairo, to patrol the streets of the town every
night after dark, and a hundred of the imported Memlooks
were detailed for the purpose to patrol by turns with the
Vail till daybreak. Thus good order was maintained during
the absence of the Sultan, contrary to the usual experience.
The Dawadar was constantly reproaching Elmas the Vail for
impressing people to maintain the roads; it was a most
tyrannical practice. He arranged with the police and the
watchmen to levy contributions on the citizens for the repair
of the roads, and they used to collect a considerable amount
in this way. The watchmen would stop at a certain man’s
house and demand what money they thought fit, and if the
owner ran away they used to nail up the door and fasten his
children and family inside till he came and paid them what they
demanded. They would fasten a widow-woman in her house,
and leave her without food or drink till she threw them from
the window a blanket, mattress, or carpet, or something of
the kind. They used to levy on the poor the payment of an
Ashrafi or two, and from those in good circumstances in some
cases five, in others ten, Ashrafis as they chose. This they
did in the Khatt al-Maks, Khatt Bab al-Bahr, the Milk
Market, al-Huseiniya, the Bran Market, Khatt Birkah al-Ratli,
and other places; in this way they exercised a tyranny
exceeding that of Huniades, on the pretext that the construc¬
tion of roads was for the good of the Muhammedans. Much
money was gathered, and but little spent. So Si Bai determined
that a collection should be made from Seyyidah Nefisah to the
end of Ibn Tulun’s market-place on all property and shops
in that locality. It was supposed that they would construct
a wall to prevent a surprise attack by the Arabs. But all this
was a trick to obtain the people’s money. They began to make
lists of the properties and shops in the quarter of Tulun and
Karafah.

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

27

When the Dawadar learnt that Elmas was committing
these acts of oppression in his name, he swore a great oath
that he had had no knowledge of it, and put a stop to these
dreadful doings, gaining thereby the thanks of all the people.

Then the Memlooks in the employ of the Chamberlain tried
to start [37] another piece of tyranny. They collected a good
deal of money from the residents of Birkah al-Ratli in order
to cut through the bar across the mouth of the lake, which had
greatly increased in height, so much so that it prevented the
passage of ships into the lake. When the Dawadar got news
of this, he put a stop to this also, and ordered the entrance
to be completely blocked up to prevent ships from entering.

On Saturday, the 19th, the Dawadar returned ; he had been
to the Fayyum to inspect the embankment which Amir
Bakhsh Bai had built there. During the Sultan’s absence the
Dawadar used to ride out every day accompanied by the
Amirs of Tens, who were still in Egypt, towards Matariyyeh
and Birkah al-Haj ; he used to return by the Nasr Gate,
preceded by very many Amirs and soldiers. This was done
with the express object of preventing the Arabs and fellahin
from thinking that Egypt was denuded of troops; it was
a well-conceived idea. _

On Monday, the 21st, corresponding to the 27th of Abib,
the Nile was at its fullest. The artificial dam was cut on the
22nd, corresponding to the 28th of Abib. It had reached
its full height four days before the month Misra. The
Nile had only once before been known to reach its fullest as
early as the 27th of Abib, in the year a.h. 845. When the
Nile was in full flood, Amir Tuman Bai, the Dawadar and the
Regent went to cut the dam in a rowing boat (?), proceeded
to the Nilometer, and anointed the column.

He then left the Nilometer in the rowing-boat, accompanied
by a number of leading Amirs—Takt Bai, Governor of the
Citadel, Amir Erzamak, Nashif, and others. When the dam
was cut the Dawadar returned home with a great procession,
preceded by the Amirs in full dress, and many of the leading

28

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

officials. As soon as the darn was cut the water poured with
tremendous force into the basins. The -people rejoiced that
day that the Nile had reached its height, before its usual
time. And someone said : “ Enjoy the water of the Nile
before its inundation ; a draught of its water is as good as
medicine to us; its sweetness has without doubt come in
floods.”

Amongst the events of this time was the Dawadar's putting
a stop to people residing on the embankment at Birkah
al-Ratll and all the creeks. He made a bridge over the
Zarlbah canal, the wharf at which the plaster was unloaded.
So the business of the Middle Island fell into decay, not a house
remained, not a shop was opened. He prevented the gamblers
■from putting up a gaming-house, either on the embankment
or along the Zaribah. The houses of Birkah al-Ratll fell into
ruins, especially those of the children of al-Jl‘an, the house of
the Private Secretary, and other houses of the well-to-do
classes suffered likewise. All the owners suffered much hard¬
ship this year in consequence and lost the rent of their houses.
[38] It was said that Khaukhat al-Jisr (Bridge Lane) was
to be shut up.

The Kadi Berekat Ibn Musa, the Inspector of Markets,
besought the Dawadar to allow the ships to enter as usual
and to let the people live on the embankment; but he refused,
saying that the people would corrupt the wives of the gentle¬
men who came with the Sultan for the ceremony of the
opening of the Nile.

He kept firmly to his decision ; then towards the end of the
Nile functions he made a concession to the Kadi Berekat
Ibn Musa that five ships belonging to dealers might be
admitted to the lake as usual; so the confectioner, the cheese¬
monger, the fruiterer,the vegetable-seller,and the(Suwikhati?)
entered, and no others. These men, after remaining for
some days moving about here and there and not finding
anybody to trade with, left again, and the Birkah al-Ratll
became quite deserted; there was no one there even to kindle

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

29

a fire. This formed the subject of an elegy by Sheikh Bedr
al-Dln al-Zeitunl:—

I asked the Lord of Heaven to grant victory to our Sultan,
Al-Gljurl, the Father of Victory, the esteemed King,

Most noble, invincible, Defender of the True Faith, of perfect
dignity.

A feeling of desolation came over the creation at his absence;
Here is the Birkah al-Rat.il shedding tears ; we can rightly
bewail the loss of pleasant places,

Especially the covered places and her fair banks ;

There the light-hearted could meet,

And assuredly companionship is better than loneliness.

There the sweet, shady sycamore grew,

The birds and the beasts of the field have mourned over her,
The streams have shed bitter tears and cried out in anguish
of heart

At the calamity that has happened to the Bridge.

Its lofty tree weeps tears of blood in its mosque ;

The Syrian is mourning over the granaries,

The houses along the banks are deserted and tenantless,

Her palaces are void, and, oh 1 how lovely are the people with
empty palaces.

Lament with much grief and lamentation over Birkah al-Ratll,
Over the punishment and loss that has befallen her ;

The shipowners used to take delight in her ;

There the fruiterer hastened with his ship bearing plums and
pomegranates,

Flowers of many kinds, white roses, lilies, and myrtles, greeted
with beaming faces ;

There came also the cheese-maker, cooking on board, joining
fire to water on the stream ;

For the eaters there were thirsty confectioneries,

The thirst of which was quenched with cloud-water.

The pistachio-tree gave splendour to her open spaces,

And her sugar records the tradition of Abu Dharr ;

There the opium-eater was in constant delight,

But since the curtailment of his joys he has been engrossed
in anxious thought;

30

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

There the drunkard was in the height of enjoyment, passing
round the wine-goblets on the night of the full moon.
There were the ships, decked or open, for passengers ;

Reciters of verse came thither with players of musical
instruments,

And lutes sounding softly like the turtle dove.

[39] Now time has obliterated all those resorts,

Crows and owls in their nests mourn over them ;

The anemone has cast its petals there,

The tender branches of the trees have shed their foliage,

The blackbird has donned his sombre robes ;

There is heard the sound of water as the river beats against the
bank,

The clouds shed tears, and the dawn is as the beginning of the
night,

The noonday sun is darkened, and the full moon eclipsed till
dawn.

Our Middle Island has become a waste
From the damming up of the water,

They have taken away its falling timbers for sale,

And left nothing but the bare walls ;

The boatmen are in dire distress,

There is no means of livelihood nor ship-owner ;

They have sold their deck-coverings and sails,

The oars have vanished—none knows whither,

O eyes, shed copious tears of grief !

0 heart, patiently endure !

God’s favour be on the days that passed so joyfully, when we in
Egypt were in security.

The Dawadar it was who issued these prohibitions,

With intent to protect the women who came out with the
Sultan,

And the purdah girls, in the early morning,

To protect the wives and daughters of the people from mis¬
fortune ;

By giving these orders he was the most noble protector of the
wives and daughters of all people from trouble.

Had it not been for the intercession of Musa,

For which he has received thanks and rewards,

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

31

The dealers’ ships would not have been allowed to enter,

Nor would anyone have appeared on the embankments.

Oh, Lord, grant victory for our Sultan and the Army of Egypt!

Grant them a safe return to their nation and country,

We pray for the chosen one Muhammed of the family of
Hashim,

To guide to all goodness and felicity,

Likewise blessings be on his family and companions and on the
next generation

And perfect grace be given them on the Day of Resurrection ;

May the mercy of God be upon them

As long as the morning breeze blows over the branches

And the turtle-dove cooes.

And the versifier, al-‘AufI, prays for all who discover a fault
of Zeituni’s, and graciously draw a veil over it.

On Friday, the 26th, Sheikh Taj al-Din al-Dhakir died.
May God have mercy on him ! He was one of the chief Sufi
Sheikhs, well known among the people for his justice and
uprightness, in fact a guileless man.

In the month of Rejeb Amir Tara Bey died, one of the
Amirs of Tens. On the first of the month, which fell on
a Thursday, a number of deputy judges, noblemen, and clerks
went to the Dawadar’s house to wish him good luck in the
new month. On Thursday, the 8th, Taghri Birdi, known as
ShemshamanI, died. He claimed to be one of the Amirs of
Tens ; it was said that he was once a water-carrier; he died
the owner of land and property. He was rich, but was said
to have been avaricious and miserly.

The same day came news of the death of one of the Amirs
[40] of Tens called Musayed, who was on active service with the
Sultan. He was originally one of Ashraf Kait Bai’s Memlooks.

On this day the Amirs who had been in the Sharkieh and
Gharbieh provinces returned. At this time also, the people
were troubled by the new coinage. Goods were sold at two
prices, a silver nisf became equal to 16 dirhems of the old
coinage ; the new coins were reckoned by number, they were
extremely light, and the people suffered in consequence, and

32

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYl’T

shops were closed for the same reason. Bread and other
necessaries went up in price, whicli almost brought about
a famine.

Then came news of the Sultan’s arrival at Aleppo, which
he had entered on Thursday the 10th of Jumada al-Akhira,
which day was observed as a high day and holiday.

The Sultan was preceded by the Khalifah, the four judges,
and other Amirs as in his Syrian procession. The canopy
of the royal parasol was carried over his head by Khair Bey,
chief of the Amirs, Viceroy of Aleppo, as Si Bai, the Governor
of Damascus, had done.

As soon as the Sultan had entered Aleppo, emissaries
arrived from Selim Shah Ibn ‘Othman, Emperor of
Constantinople. It was said that he sent his military judge,
a person named Rukn al-Din, and one of his Amirs called
Karaja Pasha with 700 dependants to Aleppo, and I have
it on written authority that the Sultan on seeing the
Kadi of Ibn ‘Othman and Karaja Pasha abused them for
Ibn ‘Othman’s action towards him, more especially for
his taking possession of the dominions of ‘All Dolat. In
reply the Kadi and Karaja Pasha said that their master had
commissioned them to negotiate a peace, and that they
were ordered to comply with the Sultan’s wishes without
further reference to him. But this was mere bluff and trickery
to prevent the Sultan’s going to war, and to shake his
determination—which was borne out by subsequent events.

Then Ibn ‘Othman’s Kadi produced legal opinions from the
learned men of their country, who had pronounced the death
of Shah Isma‘il as justified by the sacred law. Moreover,
Ibn ‘Othman wrote to the Sultan in this wise : “ Thou art
my Father and I ask thee to pray for me, but do not come
between me and the Sufi.”

Another piece of deceit practised by Ibn ‘Othman (towards
the Sultan al-Ghuri) was his asking for sugar and sweetmeats,
in response to which demand al-Ghuri sent him a hundred
Kintars of sugar and sweetmeats in large boxes. Ibn

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

33

‘Othman also wrote that nothing could deter him from
wiping off Isma‘11 Shah from the face of the earth, “ but do
not,” he said, “ let this prevent peace between you and me.”
He tried to give the impression that he was making war
against the Sufi, but this was not his real object. They said
that when he was at Kaisariyyeh he was about to march
against the Sufi. Then the Sultan presented Ibn ‘Othman’s
emissaries with robes of honour.

Ibn ‘Othman was said to have sent al-Ghurl many presents,
also to the Khalifah and to Amir Sudun al-‘AjemI. Amongst
these were forty Memlooks, furs, suits of velvet and serge,
Badbec costumes, and other things. To the Khalifah he sent
two furs, a velvet suit with cuffs of gold thread, and two suits
of superfine serge. Ibn ‘Othman’s military judge also gave
him two suits of serge, a prayer-carpet,' and a mule. The
Sultan also sent splendid presents to Amir Keblr, including
furs, velvet, and serge clothing and two slaves.

After this the Sultan deputed Amir Moghul Bey Dawadar
[41] Sikkin to proceed to Ibn ‘Othman with a letter con¬
taining the conditions of peace.

Meanwhile his army halted awaiting the reply. I com¬
posed the following verses about the Sultan’s expedition
from the time of his departure from Egypt up to his entry
into Aleppo. Then I said :—

Offer up prayers for victory for our noble king, Sultan of Egypt,
His departure for Syria, Damascus, and the Land of Beauty,
Has the Divine sanction.

He decided to reconnoitre the country.

And it forthwith opened its bounty to him.

Its governors came to meet him in willing submission,

The keen-edg’d sword was not drawn against him.

Had Alexander the Great been alive among mankind.

He would have honoured him and paid him all courtesy,

His epoch surpassed that of all kings in splendour;

So listen thou and hear without more ado.

I saw him when he passed by with the cavalcade,

Mightier than Barkuk, who himself was an AshrafI,

3

34

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

The Khallfah and the judges rode before him,

The serpents hid themselves from his armies ;

I put him under the protection of the verses of the Surah of
Yusuf,

And his troops under the protection of the verses of the Surah
of “ the ornaments of gold

Thursday was the day of his entry into Gazah with his army ;
Damascus exclaimed in her joy at his coming,

“Welcome to the just king of men.”

The brow of Rubwah glowed with light

When Joseph’s encampment (i.e. Saladin’s) decked itself with
flowers;

Hamah came under the protection of his justice,

The Orontes forthwith obeyed him without demur,

The Euphrates yearned for him and came on in full flood,
Aleppo was cheered by his arrival,

But Egypt was desolate at His departure ;

Aleppo was honoured by him and said “0, joy !

Hail to the graceful newcomer.”

Our Sultan al-Ghuri felt strongly supported,

Since the All-merciful encircled him with his secret favour.

May God preserve him for ever,

As long as the Zephyr intoxicates like wine.

These are the feeble verses of Ibn Iyas.

May all blessings fall on the Holy Prophet,

The best of mankind and the greatest of helpers,

On his family and kindred—as long as the night
Covers with its darkness, and the day dawns.

It was related that the Sultan on his entry into Aleppo
gave instruction to Kadi Kemal al-Din Tawil to deliver an
oration in the grand mosque of Aleppo. A great congregation
assembled. The Kadi ascended the pulpit and preached an
eloquent sermon, quoting sacred traditions in favour of peace.
• The Muezzins also called in the mosques, and the Sultan’s
portions of the Kor’an were read. Preachers delivered sermons,
and it was observed as [42] a high day in their mosque.
The Sultan did not attend, nor was he present at Friday’s

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

35

prayers, as he had been at Damascus, for which he was
blamed. Kadi Kemal al-Dln, preached in the large mosque
during the Sultan’s stay at Aleppo. According to accounts of
the Sultan’s doings there he made Kansuh the Viceroy of
Aleppo, an Amir of a thousand, also Yusuf al-Nasirl the
superintendent of the buttery, who had been deputy of
I.Iamah, and Tara Bai Deputy of Safad, and Tamraz Deputy
of Tripoli. He also distributed thirty dinars each to the
camp-followers who had accompanied him without subsistence
allowance. He originally meant to give fifty dinars, but
a protest was made by the Secretary of the Memlooks, and
he reduced it to thirty.

To the troops he gave three months’ ration money. Then
the Sultan issued to the imported Memlooks a number of arms
from the citadel stores at Aleppo, also innumerable horses.
Moreover, he continued giving them large presents of money,
well-bred horses, and weapons on the road, but he did not
give anything to the Karanisah Memlooks, which offended
them greatly.

The Sultan read the Khatmah on the Great Maidan at
Aleppo on Thursday and Thursday night. There were
present the Amir of the Faithful al-Mutewekkil ‘ala, Allah,
the four judges, and the Sheikhs of the Monasteries. The
Amir of the Faithful prayed with the Sultan in his tent
afternoon and evening. On that day the Sultan gave away
400 dinars and 100 head of sheep. He presented to the Kadi
of the Shafi'Is 70 dinars, and to his deputies and ‘Ulemas
70 dinars, a similar amount also to the HanefI Kadi.

The Maliki Kadi received 50 dinars and his three deputies
30, and to the Hanbali Kadi he allowed a similar sum. He
also conferred on the Sheikhs 50 dinars each ; on the poor
who had come with him he bestowed 10 dinars each. To the
readers of Aleppo who were present at the Khatmah and others
he gave 5 dinars each.

After that the Sultan summoned the Amirs of Thousands,
and their deputies, the Amirs of the Tablkhanah, and Amirs

36

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

of Tens, and made them swear on the Kor’an that they would
not betray him. He gave orders for the parade of the troops
in the Maidan of Aleppo in full dress ; they were made to pass
under two crossed swords, after the custom of the Turks, who
regard this as a most sacred oath.

Then the Sultan sent for Kasim Bey from Hamah, and
conferred a robe of honour on him. After this news reached
Aleppo that Selim Shah Ibn ‘Othman had arrested the Sultan’s
emissary, Amir Moghul Bai, one of the Dawadars, and put
him in irons. The Sultan had sent Amir Kurt Bai, one of the
leading Amirs, who had been Governor of Cairo, to Ibn
‘Othman with presents worth about 10,000 dinars. He had
also conferred on the military Kadi of Ibn ‘Othman and his
minister Karaja Pasha above mentioned a sumptuous robe
of honour with a wide yalbaghawi border, and gave them
permission to return to their own country. It was an obvious
error of judgment on the part of the Sultan al-Ghuri to
dismiss the emissaries of Ibn ‘Othman before the return of
Moghul Bai with trustworthy news of Ibn ‘Othman.

[43] Kurt Bai heard on his arrival at ‘Aintab that Ibn
‘Othman had refused peace, and had arrested Moghul Bai
and put him in irons. He had meant to hang him, but let
him off at the intercession of some of his ministers. Ibn
‘Othman also meant to shave his victim’s beard. He suffered
indescribable insults at Ibn ‘Othman’s hand. On lear ning
this Kurt Bai returned to Aleppo and informed the Sultan
of what Selim Shah Ibn ‘Othman had done to Amir Moghul
Bai. He also reported the arrival of the advanced guard of
Ibn ‘Othman’s army at ‘Aintab, and of their having captured
the fortresses Malatiyyeh, Behsina, Kerker, and others.

The announcement of this bad news by Kurt Bai disturbed
the Sultan and people, and the whole army.

The Sultan decorated Amir ‘Abd al-Kazzak and invested
him with the governorship of the district of the tribe of
Du’l Ghadir. The Sultan then left Aleppo, accompanied by
the Chief of Amirs Khair Bai with a very strong escort.

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

37

The Governor and Amirs of Aleppo also left with their troops,
and halted a day’s march from the city.

The infantry with them amounted to five thousand;
these troops received at that time a month’s pay from the
Sultan. These were followed by Chief Amir Si Bai, Deputy
of Damascus, Tamraz, Deputy of Tripoli, Tara Bai, Deputy of
Safad, and the Deputies of Homs and of Gazah. Their
departure from Aleppo took place on the 17th of the month
Rejeb.

A rumour had got about that Ibn ‘Othman was advancing
from one direction and Ibn Suwar from another. Then the
Sultan gave orders for the Army to march from Aleppo and
occupy JUan, in order to engage the rebel Ibn ‘Othman,
saying that he himself and the Amirs would shortly follow to
take part in the battle, and that the issue would be in
accordance with God’s will.

This is an extract from a letter of the commander of the
Faithful to his son Ya‘kub. The same letter gives prices at
Aleppp ; the price of barley was 27 nisfs an ardebb ; bread
3 dirhems a rati; cheese 2 nisfs a rati; meat 9 dirhems a rati;
Egyptian molasses half a feddah a rati. The price of wheat
went up as high as 2 ashrafls an ardebb ; and vetches (for
camel-fodder) were selling at 124 dirhems the ardebb.

The Sultan issued an imperial edict to the Dawadar con¬
taining instructions as to his subjects. The' imported
Memlooks in quarters were not to molest the people or
disturb the tradesmen. The Dawadar was to inquire into
the cases of all those in the prisons, of both sexes, and to
release debtors and others, in fact all except those imprisoned
for a capital offence.

He also sent orders that if the road to the Ilejaz were clear
of Arabs, the pilgrimage to Mecca was to be started from
Cairo, but that if the road was dangerous there was to be no
pilgrimage that year. The imported Memlooks were to be
forbidden to leave their quarters and enter the town, and
anyone of them molesting the people was to be summarily

38

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

dealt with and hung. These orders were read to them at.
the citadel in the presence of Amir Takt Bai, the Governor.
The Sultan sent his greetings to all the Amirs and troops.

The first day of the month of Sha'ban fell on a Friday ; it
was also the Coptic New Year’s Day, which was regarded as
an uncommon occurrence, especially as the latter was on a
Friday, when there is a particular hour at which prayers are
[44] answered. On the Saturday the Dawadar conferred a
robe of honour on one of the Court, Jani Bey al-KasIr, a royal
Memlook, and appointed him to the Inspectorship of Manfalut
in the place of Inal Ibn Jani Bey, whose eyesight had failed.

On Sunday, the 3rd, the Dawadar inspected the prisoners
in confinement and the women under arrest. He released
a number of debtors, paying off their creditors himself. He also
released a number of thieves, and ordered that a number of
prisoners charged with murder should be cut in two. But he
gave orders for the detention of some of the latter in prison
till the Sultan’s return. The Dawadar also gave substantial
gifts to the poor. He commanded that the Khatmah ghould
be read in all the mosques in Cairo, and that prayers should
be offered up for the victory of the Sultan. On Monday, the
4th, he conferred a robe of honour on Yusuf al-Badrl, and
restored him to the position he formerly held in the Vizierate
for the fourth time. On the same day orders were issued for
the departure of the Ilaj to Mecca as usual. It had been
rumoured that there would be no pilgrimage this year.

On Tuesday or Tuesday night died the former HanefI
judge, Burhan al-Dln Ibrahim Ibn al-Karakl, whose full
name was Ibrahim Ibn al-Sheikh Zein al-Dln ‘Abd al-Rahman
Ibn Isma II al-Karakl al-Hanefi. He was a learned and
distinguished man, an eminent chief of the IlanefI lawyers,
a pupil of al-Sheikh Muhyl al-Dln al-Kafljl, Sheikh Saif al-Dln,
and other learned Sheikhs of the HanefI sect. He was Imam
to al-Ashraf Kait Bey, and rose to great distinction, holding
many high posts, amongst which were Chief Sheikh of the
College of the Sultan’s mother in Tabbanah and accountant

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

39

of the Sultan’s household. After that he twice held the post
of Chief Kadi of the Hanefis. He then became head of the
Ashrafiyyeh College, and endured much annoyance at the
hands of Al-Ashraf. He had an agreeable countenance,
was easy of approach, civil, and of a refined nature. He was
in his eighth decade, he had lived a happy life, and died a
witness to the' faith ; he had become very wealthy. The
cause of his death was as follows: He was living at Birkah
al-Fll, and was going down to perform his ablutions at the
Kaitun steps, wearing a pair of clogs. He slipped and fell
into the water ; it was the Nile flood, and owing to the weight
of his clothing he sank and was drowned.

On the same date the Dawadar conferred a robe of honour
on one of the court officials named Kajmas, and appointed him
to the Inspectorship of Menufiyyeh in the place of Kansuh.
News came from Aleppo of the death of Shems al-Dln
Muhammed Ibn Nashi, Sheikh of the Book-market, who was in
close attendance on the Sultan. He had held a number of
high offices. News also came of the death of Amir Yusuf,
known as Maktash, who had been Governor of Safad ; he was
dismissed from that office and then died at Aleppo. The
death of Abrak, one of the Amirs of Tens and a former
Inspector of the District of Gizeh, was also reported.

A large number of those who were with the Sultan died of
disease ; and in Gazah, Damascus, and Aleppo many Amirs
of Tens, members of the Court, servants, and others died from
disease incurred on the march. Confirmation of these
reports was received during this month, and the news that
the Sultan, when at Aleppo, promoted many Amirs to the
command of a thousand men. Amongst these were Amir
[45] Yusuf al-Nasiri, superintendent of the buttery, Tara Bai
Ibn Yeshbek, Deputy of Safad, Kansuh, Ustadar al-Suhbah,
Kansuh al-Ashrafi, Deputy of the Citadel of Aleppo, Tamraz,
Deputy of Tripoli, and others. The Sultan, it appears,
reduced many of the Chief Amirs who were incapable, and'
promoted the above-named in their places.

40

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

On Friday, the 15th of Sha'ban, al-IIaj ‘All al-Birmawi died;
he was Falconer and in charge of the Privy Purse. He rose
to honours and greatness not hitherto reached by other
Falconers, thanks to Dame Fortune. His death was caused by
a pustule, which formed in his back; he was laid up for twelve
days and then died. He was originally a fellah of Birmah, and
sold calico and carpets, riding on a donkey, till Providence
opened a door for him. He never did anyone any harm,
and was of a gentle and very humble disposition. After his
death he was found to have been the possessor of five hundred
thousand, six hundred dinars in gold, about forty-five brood
mares and camels, one hundred head of buffalo, one thousand
sheep, four hundred oxen at his irrigation wheels, and property
of still greater value than what is enumerated above. The
total amount of his property was valued at one hundred
thousand dinars.

On Saturday, the 16th, came news of the great catastrophe
which had overwhelmed the whole country. After a long
absence of news of the Sultan and his army, a letter was
brought by a runner alone from Amir ‘Allan Sub-Dawadar,
one of the Chief Amirs, telling that the Sultan believed and
disbelieved by turns in Selim Shah Ibn ‘Othman, till finally
Moghul Bey, Dawadar Sikkln, arrived in a sorry plight wearing
a mouldy cap without a tassel (?), an ancient dirty corslet (?)
on his body, and riding on a wretched jade of a horse.

He had been deprived of his horses, baggage, and clothing.
He brought the news tljat Ibn ‘Othman had refused to make
peace, and had said to him : “ Tell your master that he can
meet us on Merj Dabek.” He also said that Ibn ‘Othman
had put him in irons and wanted to shave off his beard,
and had sent him to be hung on three occasions, but that
some of his ministers had interceded for him. He had
made him carry horse-dung in a basket on his head, and
had subjected him to other insults and terrors.

When the Sultan heard this he realized the seriousness of
the quarrel between himself and Ibn ‘Othman. It was said

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

41

that the Sultan then gave Moghul Bey one thousand dinars,
horses, and clothing to the extent of his losses.

Amongst other news of the Sultan it was commonly said
by the people that he said the midday prayers, then mounted,
and left the Aleppo Maidan on Tuesday, the 20th of Rejeb,
accompanied by Amir of the Faithful al-Mutewekkil ‘ala
Allah, and the four judges. The Deputies of Damascus and
Aleppo and a number of other deputies had started previously
with an advance guard, preceded by drums, fifes, and gunners,
so that Aleppo resounded with noise and excitement.

On the Sultan’s departure from Aleppo he went to Hailan
and halted there; on the morning of the 21st he left Jilan
and proceeded to Merj Dabek, and remained there till the
25th. The latter was a day of constant ill fortune. He was
suddenly surprised by the presence of a body of troops of
Shah Selim Ibn ‘Othman. The Sultan said the morning
prayers, mounted, and proceeded to Zaghzaghin and Tell
[46] al-Far, where the alleged tomb of the Prophet Da’ud is.
He there mounted his charger, wearing a light turban and a
mantle, carrying an axe on his shoulder; he inspected the
army in person ; on the right wing was the Amir of the
Faithful, also wearing a light turban and mantle, carrying an
axe on his shoulder like the Sultan, and having over his
head the Khallfah’s banner. Around the Sultan, borne on
the heads of a body of nobles, were forty copies of the Kor’an
in yellow silk cases ; one of these copies was in the handwriting
of Imam ‘Othman Ibn ‘Affan. There were also round him
a body of dervishes, among whom was the successor of
Seyyid Ahmed al-Bedawi (founder of the Sufi sect),
accompanied by banners. There were also the heads of the
Kadiriyyeh sect with their green banners, the successor of
Seyyidi Ahmed al-Rlfa‘I with his banners, and Sheikh ‘Afif
al-Din, attendant in the mosque of Seyyidah Nefisah
with black banners. Alongside of the Khalifah was the
vouth Kasim Bey Ibn Ahmed Bey Ibn ‘Othman, of whom
mention has already been made ; according to some authorities

42

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

he had over his head a yellow, according to others a red,
silk flag. The Royal Red Standard was carried about
20 yards behind the Sultan, and under it marched the chiefs
of the Menilooks, Sunbul al-‘OthmanI, the four judges, and
Amir Tamr al-Zardkash, one of the principal Amirs. On the
right flank of the troops was Amir Si Bai, Deputy of Damascus,
and on the left flank Khair Bey, Deputy of Aleppo.

According to some authorities the first to be engaged in
the battle was Atabek Sudun al-‘AjemI, with Malik al-’Umara
Si Bai, Deputy of Damascus, and the Karanisah Memlooks,
but not the imported Memlooks. These, accompanied by
a number of Deputies, fought desperately and put to flight
the troops of Ibn ‘Othman, inflicting terrible losses and
capturing seven standards, the guns on the carriages, and the
musketeers.

Ibn ‘Othman, in consequence, thought seriously of a retreat
or a surrender, as over 10,000 of his men had been killed.
At first the army of Egypt was victorious; would that it
had continued so! But a report reached the Karanisah
Memlooks that the Sultan had ordered the imported Memlooks
not to go into action at all, but to let the Karanisah Memlooks
fight alone, which damped their ardour. Meanwhile Atabek
Sudun had fallen, also Malik al-’Umara Si Bai, Deputy of
Damascus, and a great number of the right flank turned
defeated. This was followed by the flight of Khair Bey,
Deputy of Aleppo, and the defeat of the left flank, Amir
Kansuh Ibn Sultan Chirkess being taken prisoner, some said
killed. Moreover, Khair Bey was said to be secretly in league
with Ibn ‘Othman against al-Ghurl, a report which was
confirmed later. He was, moreover, the first to fly before
all the troops, and proclaimed defeat. But this loss was
inflicted on the Egyptian troops by the will of Providence
in fulfilment of His decrees.

Now the Sultan was standing under the flag with a small
body of Memlooks, and he began to call out: “ Oh, sirs, now
is the time to quit yourselves like men, this is the time to

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

43

show your valour.” But none listened to him, and they
began to leave him, whilst he told the Fakirs to pray to God
for victory, “for now,” said he, “ your prayers are needed.”
But no help or succour came. The Sultan’s heart became
as a red-hot coal, which could not be extinguished. The day,
too, was fiercely hot, and such a dust was raised between the
opposing armies that they could scarcely see each other.
God’s anger was kindled against the Egyptian troops, and
their hands seemed to be fettered so that they could not fight,
[47] and their sight failed them. I wrote these verses about
the battle :—

When our Sultan with his army
Met the foe on the field of Merj Dabek,

He cried, “ Is there any to succour me ? ”

The tongue of events replied:

“ Thou hast exposed thyself to calamity and thou must be the
butt of it.”

Terror struck the hearts of the foreign Memlooks,

So that they cried out “ Where shall we hide ? ”

The sordidness of their minds so filled them with the lust for
plunder,

That it brought about their destruction.

Now as the confusion and terror increased Amir Tamr
al-Zardkash feared for the safety of the Sultan’s standard,
so he lowered it, folded it up, and concealed it. Then he
approached the Sultan and said to him : “ Our King and
Master, the troops of Ibn ‘Othman are upon us, save thyself
and go back to Aleppo.” When the Sultan understood this
a .kind of paralysis fell upon him, which affected one side,
and caused his jaw to drop. He asked for water, and they
brought him some in a golden cup, from which he drank
a little. Then intending flight, he turned his horse round,
moved on a few paces, fell off his horse, stood for a moment,
and died from the shock of his defeat. It was said that his
gall-bladder burst, and that red blood flowed from his throat.

44

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

When his death became known Ibn ‘Othman’s troops
advanced against the men who were round the Sultan ; they
killed Amir Baibars, one of the Commanders, and a number
of the bodyguard and of the Sultan’s servants. As to the
Sultan, his body was not found amongst the dead, nor was
it ever known what became of it; it was as if the earth had
swallowed it up there and then. Therein is a lesson to him
who considers.

The Ottoman troops then trampled down al-Ghuri’s tents
and overthrew all the goods and provisions stacked round
them. The copy of ‘Othman’s Kor’an was lost, they stamped
upon the Fakirs’ flags and the Amirs’ banners, and plundered
everything belonging to the Egyptian troops.

Thus the rule of al-Ashraf al-Ghuri came to an end, in the
twinkling of an eye, as though he had never been. Praise
be to Him whose kingdom never wanes, and Who never
changes ! Thus he and his kingdom came to an end together ;
the kingdom of Egypt and the Dominion of Syria, over
which he had reigned for fifteen years nine months and twenty
days. The date of his accession was the 1st of Shawwal
a.h. 906, and he died on the 25th of Rejeb, a.h. 922. During
this period his subjects were in a miserable condition. Then
I said :—

Look with wonder at al-Ashraf al-Ghuri,

Who, after his tyranny had reached its height in Cairo,

Lost his kingdom in an hour,

Lost this world and the world to come.

This battle lasted from sunrise till the afternoon, and
ended as God had decreed. The killed on both sides were
innumerable. Three of the Chief Amirs were killed, Atabek
Sudan al-‘Ajenu, Baibars, the kinsman (?) of the Sultan, and
Ak Bai al-Tawil. Kansuh Ibn Sultan Chirkess was taken
prisoner. The following were also killed : Si Bai, Deputy of
Damascus ; Tamraz, Deputy of Tripoli; Tara Bai, Deputy
of Safad; and Aslan, Deputy of Homs ; besides a great many
Amirs of Damascus, Aleppo, and Tripoli, a number of

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

45

[48] Egyptian Amirs, Amirs of the Tablkhanah, Amirs of
Tens and Guards.

Of the Egyptian troops, the Karanisah Memlooks suffered
the most, but few of the imported Memlooks were in action ;
no feats of horsemanship were displayed by them; in fact,
they drew neither sword nor lance, and might have been blocks
of wood for all the stir they made.

It was a time to turn an infant’s hair white, and to melt iron
in its fury. Merj Dabek was strewn with corpses and headless
bodies, and faces covered with dust and grown hideous.
Dead horses lay everywhere, saddles were scattered about,
also swords inlaid with gold, steel sets of horse-armour inlaid
with gold, helmets, armour, and bundles of clothing. No one
paid any heed to these things, for both armies were occupied
with matters of more importance. A popular poem says -

My horse beat applause when I had touched my lute on the
day of battle,

And sharp swords sang East and West;

They struck again and again, hitting in the music of the blows

The heads of the enemy—and dancing

As they entered into the fight.

Then Ibn ‘Othman advanced with his troops, and took
possession of the Sudan’s camp. He sat in the circular tent,
took the wardrobe (?) and the costly goblets belonging to it, the
armour-case, the weapons, the money-chest, and all articles
of value, and each of his Amirs took to himself a tent of one
of al-Ghurl’s Amirs. The troops occupied the tents of the
Egyptian, Syrian, and Aleppo troops, thus exemplifying the
maxim that “ The misfortunes of some are the good fortunes
of others No Ottoman king has ever gained such a victory,
but once Tlmurleng entered Ibn ‘Othman’s country, and
fought against one of his ancestors, named Yildirim, who was
defeated, taken prisoner, and placed by Tlmurleng in an iron
cage, and exposed to the ridicule of the people in Timurleng’s
country. Being unable to bear it he swallowed a diamond
ring and died in the cage.

46

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

No Sultan of Egypt ever suffered such a reverse in one day,
or died under his standard, having all his property and equip¬
ment captured by the enemy, except Kansuh al-Ghuri.

Thus was it written in the Divine decrees. Neither the
Sultan nor his Amirs ruled the people justly; they reaped
the reward of their evil doings, and were vanquished by Ibn
‘Othman. Truly it has been said, “ Where are the kings who
wrought oppression in the land, and from whom God has
freed the country ? ”

Then the Sultan Ibn ‘Othman left Merj Dabek and entered
Aleppo, taking possession of it without opposition; and he
halted on the same Maidan that al-Ghuri had previously
[49] occupied. This is the full account of the battle as received
by us, and all that passed between al-Ghuri and Ibn ‘Othman.

The Amirs and troops after their defeat made for Aleppo,
but on trying to enter that town they were attacked by the
inhabitants, who killed a number of the soldiers, taking their
arms, horses, and equipment and laying hands on the things
they had left in the town for security. Indeed, they suffered
worse treatment at the hands of the people of Aleppo than
they did from the soldiers of Ibn ‘Othman. There had been
bad feeling between the people of Aleppo and the Imperial
Memlooks since they had gone on ahead of the Sultan from
Cairo to Aleppo, along with Kani Bey, Grand Master of the
Horse. They had forced an entrance into the houses of the
people, violating their women and children ; so the people of
Aleppo had suffered much injury from them. No sooner did
they realize that these troops were beaten, than tjjey set
about to take their revenge.

When the Amirs and the remnant of the soldiers saw this
they quitted Aleppo precipitately and made for Damascus,
which they reached in the sorriest plight, deprived of clothing
and horses. Most of the troops entered Damascus, some riding
on donkeys, some on camels; many were almost naked, with
just a cloak round them.

Never before had such a disaster befallen Egyptian troops.

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT 47

The Amirs, the executive officers, and the soldiers remained
in Damascus until the survivors should arrive and it should be
known who had died and who was still alive. It was said that
the Amirs when in Damascus had no protection from the
burning sun, until their servants made them shelters from
branches of trees. As to Selim Shah Ibn ‘Othman, he took
up his quarters in the Maidan of Aleppo. Then Amir al-
Mu’minln al-Mutewekkil ‘ala Allah approached him and the
three chief judges, Kemal al-Dln al-TawIl, Muhyl al-Dln
al-Demlrl, Shihab al-Dln Futuhi, of the Shafl’i Malik! and
Hanbali sects respectively. Kadi Mahmud Ibn al-Shihnah
had fled with the troops to Damascus, having been plundered
of all his baggage and clothing.' He arrived at Damascus in
a miserable condition.

It was said that when the Amir al-Mu’minln presented himself
to Ibn ‘Othman in the Maidan, the latter treated him with
respect and asked him to be seated. He inquired where he
came from, and on being told from Baghdad promised to send
him back there ; but many different stories were circulated on
the subject. When the Khallfah requested leave to depart
the Sultan presented him with a robe of honour from his own
clothing, and gave him a sum of money and sent him back to
Aleppo, putting him under observation so that he should not
escape.

The story told about the three judges was that the Sultan
abused them and said that they took bribes for their
administration of the Sacred Law, and canvassed for offices
by bribery ; that not one of them set an example of good
conduct, for they did not prevent their Sultan from oppressing
the people but looked on at this and did not condemn it.
All kinds of strange stories were told and credited as true.

I was informed by one who saw Selim Shah Ibn ‘Othman
that he was a square-built, broad-chested man, of a fair
complexion, wide between the eyes, with an aquiline nose
[perhaps a misprint for AknaTAnf (?)], a stout figure, with
a moustache, but no beard, big-headed, wearing a small

48

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

turban, smaller than those worn by his Amirs. On his
arrival at Aleppo, the people surrendered the town to him
without opposition. Kansuh al-Ashraf, Governor of the
Citadel, fled with the troops to Damascus, leaving the gates
[50] of the Citadel open.

When this news reached Ibn ‘Othman he sent off a man
who was lame and beardless, with a wooden club in his hand,
who went up to the citadel, entered it without opposition,
affixed seals to the stores therein, and took possession of
money, arms, and other articles of value. Ibn ‘Othman did
this that it might be said that he took the citadel of Aleppo
by means of a lame man with a wooden club, and the weakest
man in his army. Someone has said: “ Take care not to
despise a weak foe, for a fly can make the lion’s eye bleed.”

It was reported that Ibn ‘Othman after capturing the
town of Aleppo only entered it on three occasions. First
when he went up to the citadel to inspect the stores, amongst
which he found an amazing quantity of money, arms, and
articles of value. The money amounted to about a million
dinars. He also found gilt horsings and stirrups, axes and
saddles inlaid with gold and crystal, side-drums, studded
bridles, costly rings, sets of painted steel horse-armour,
splendid helmets and other weapons, such as neither he nor
any of his ancestors had ever seen or owned before, nor any
of the Emperors of Constantinople. For what al-Ghurl had
collected by oppression and violence, and the valuables he had
extracted from the treasuries of former kings of the Circassian
Turks were quietly taken possession of by Selim Ibn ‘Othman
without any trouble whatever. And not included in this was
the property left in Halab by the Amirs in Command, the Ami rs
of the Tablkhanah and the Amirs of Tens, and the executive
officers and soldiers, in the shape of money, arms, clothing, and
equipment. It was also said that Ibn ‘Othman took possession
of thirteen citadels in the Sultan’s dominions, and the property
they contained. In fact, the quantity of money, arms, and
valuables which he captured was unlimited. He became

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

49

possessed of it all, by destiny. He also took innumerable
horses, mules, camels, and tents. Bearing on which someone
has said :—

Does it not chance that one is deprived of his portion, though
wide awake,

While another obtains his, even while he sleeps.

The second occasion of Ibn ‘Othman’s visit to the citadel
was when he went to say the Friday prayers in the mosque
of al-Htrush, where his name was mentioned in them.
Prayers were also offered up for him from the pulpits in the
town of Aleppo and the surrounding districts. The town
was illuminated, candles lighted in the bazaars, and. voices
were raised in prayer for him as he passed by on his return
from the mosque, and the people made great rejoicings.

Ibrahim al-Samarkandi, Yunus al-‘Adili, and al-‘Ajemi
al-Shenkji declared themselves for him. These were close
companions of al-Ghuri, but had been secretly in league with
Ibn ‘Othman, and in correspondence with him about the
affairs of the Sultan and the country. When al-Ghuri was
gone, they showed the same friendship to Ibn ‘Othman, and
set to work to depreciate al-Ghuri and to enumerate his base
actions to Ibn ‘Othman, becoming at last his adherents, and
forgetting all al-Ghuri’s kindness to themselves.

[51] Another who had been secretly plotting against the
Sultan was Khair Bey, Governor of Aleppo. He was the first
to cause the Sultan’s troops to break, when he deserted the
left flank, and went off in the direction of Hamah. When
Ibn ‘Othman had taken possession of Aleppo he sent for
Khair Bey and conferred a robe of honour upon him; he
became one of his Amirs and took to wearing the round
turban and black tassel of a Turkoman, and clipped his beard
short. Thus he tendered his submission to Ibn ‘Othman,
who called him Khain Bey (traitor) because he betrayed his
own Sultan.

When this took place his own Memlooks deserted him, and
went off with the troops to Egypt. This event bears a close

4

50

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EG Y PT

resemblance to the case of Ibn al-‘Alkami, Yizlr of Baghdad,
who plotted against the Khalifah al-Musta‘sim Bi’llah. When
Hulagu became Sultan of Baghdad, and killed the Khallfah,
he became a close attendant on Hulagu, who then turned
against him and killed him, saying: “ You were no good
to your own master, and are not likely to be of any good
to me.” Very probably the same thing will happen to
Khair Bey.

The third occasion on which Ibn ‘Othman entered Aleppo
was when he went in to the bath ; and he then bestowed a
considerable sum of money on the Mu‘allim.

Now the Khallfah and the three judges, the Shafi‘1, the
Maliki, and Ilanbali, remained interned in Aleppo, not leaving
the city without the Sultan’s permission. There also remained
there, after the defeat, many leading men, including KadVAbd
al-Kerlm Ibn al-JTan, Secretary to the Imperial Treasuries,
‘Abd al-Kerim Ibn Fakhirat, one of the Secretaries to the
Memlooks, and ‘Abd al-Kerim Ibn al-Adml, Accountant of
the Armoury, Ke’is Mubammed Ibn al-Kaisunl, Imam to
al-Ghuri, and a number of others whose names I do not
remember. These persons remained behind in Aleppo after
the defeat waiting for permission to leave.

When Ibn ‘Othman entered the town he proclaimed
security to all, and announced that trade should be carried
on as usual. He also ordered that all persons who had horses,
arms, or clothing belonging to the Amirs or the troops were
to bring them in to him, and that anyone failing to do this,
if denounced, was to be hung forthwith.

[Here follows a list of Amirs and others killed in the battle,
or made prisoners, omitted in the translation.]
*****

[52] Now let us return to what was taking place in Cairo.

. On the arrival of the letter from Amir ‘Allan, the Sub-
Dawadar, giving an account of the terrible battle, and of the
loss of the Amirs, nobles, and judges, there arose great
lamentations in the family of Atabek Sudun al-‘AjemI, for he

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

51

was a devout, good, and kind-hearted Amir. He was known
as Sud fin Ibn Jan! Bey, and was originally one of Ashraf
Kait Bey’s Memlooks. He had held several high offices,
including that of Amir Mejlis and Chief Armour-bearer. He
showed great courage in action, and splendid feats of horseman¬
ship ; he continued to a fight till he was killed on his horse.
May the Lord have mercy on him. So there was mourning
for the Sultan that day, and for the Amirs and nobles, and
lamentation and weeping in all the thoroughfares of Cairo, for
[53] those who had fallen. Cairo and its people were in great
agitation, confusion, and wild talk reigned everywhere.

On Sunday, the 17th Sha‘ban, the Dawadar heard that the
Beni ‘Atiyyeh and Na'a’im Arabs had plundered the estates
of the Sharkieh province and carried off about 400 head of
sheep belonging to the Sultan, and had gone into the Wad!
‘Abbasah. On hearing this the Dawadar performed the
midday prayers, and then rode out with five hundred
Memlooks to meet the Arabs, came upon them suddenly,
and they fled from before him, and the Amir and his party
recovered all the goods and sheep and crops and returned to
Cairo the same day.

During this month he conferred a robe of honour on Zeini
Berekat Ibn Musa. He also went about Cairo issuing
proclamations to restore public confidence, and to abolish the
system of exactions known as monthly and weekly payments
and all recent oppressive measures. He declared that Zeini
Berekat Ibn Musa would continue in office and that no one
was to invoke the protection of anyone against him. So the
Dawadar’s influence and the esteem felt for him became twice
as great as before.

He combined many high offices, and was supreme over the
affairs of the country.

On Monday, the 18th, the Dawadar paid the troops in
Cairo their wages. They were distributed by Amir Takt Bai,
Deputy of the Citadel, at the steps. This was the occasion
for much talk about the Sultan’s death, and manifestations

52

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

of distress thereat. On the same day the Dawadar ordered
a parade of those in prison, including the women ; and
thereupon he set a large number at liberty, including Jan Bey,
Dawadar of Amir Tara Bai, who had been in prison at
Maksharah for some time, on account of money which he had
embezzled whilst he was pleader in charge of the Sultan’s
Privy Purse. He also released Kadi Bedr al-Din Ibn
Tha‘lab, Kadi of Asyut, who had also been imprisoned at
Maksharah for arrears of fines. He further released his son
Shems al-Din and his brother Nejm al-Din, together with
Salah al-Din Ibn Katib Gharib, the nephew of Abu al-Fadl,
also the Mu‘allim, Shenshu al-Yahudi, a convert to
Muhammedanism, whose imprisonment has already been
mentioned. He also set at liberty the Mu‘allim Ya‘kub, the
goldsmith, Mu'allim at the Mint, and a large number of
workmen, fellahin, and others, including the women who were
in seclusion and nobles who were in prison, leaving in there
only criminals and those charged with capital offences. He
cut off the hands of a large number of the latter and let them
go. He then cut in two a number of criminals, amongst
whom was a man named ‘Abd al-Kadir abu Diyat, and cut off
the hands of several thieves. He discharged Kadi Salah
al-Din Ibn Abi al-Su‘ud Ibn Kadi Ibrahim Ibn Zahirah,
Kadi of Mecca, who had been for some time in irons, in Zeini
Berekat Ibn Musa’s house. The circumstances that led to his
arrest were the following. A certain Ibrahim al-Samarkandi
preferred a complaint against him to the Sultan that he had
found a quantity of hidden treasure at Mecca. The Sultan
then summoned the Kadi from Mecca in disgrace; on his
arrival the Sultan demanded the treasure from him. He
denied the existence of it, and the Sultan put him in irons in
charge of Zeini Berekat, and he remained thus in his keeping
for a long time though quite innocent.

[54] On Tuesday, the 19th, the Dawadar conferred a robe
of honour on Shihabi Ahmed Ibn al-Mundhiri Hasan Ibn
al-Tuluni and restored him to the post of chief

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

53

Mu'allim, from which the Sultan had deposed him in
favour of Jemal al-Din al-Alwahi, guardian of Dahlshah.
On the same day the Dawadar made proclamation in Cairo that
all the recent taxes were abolished, and that the decrees in
force under Ashraf Kait Bey were to be observed. This was
received with general acclamation. ZeinI Berekat Ibn
Musa went throughout Cairo fixing the prices of commodities,
so that a kind of vermicelli, which was being sold at four
dirhems the rati, was fixed at two dirhems ; cheese and meat
also came under the new tariff.

During the same month Zeini opened the dam at Abu
Manja, the Nile having risen on that day to twenty cubits.
This was on the 22nd day of Tut, the first Coptic month.
The Dawadar used during the Sultan’s absence to ride out
to Matariyyeh daily, and on his return to enter by the Bab
al-Nasr, preceded by the Chief Amirs who had remained
behind in Egypt, and a strong body of troops. Immediately
in front of him were runners and naptha throwers.(?), and his
Memlooks wearing swords and carrying lances with coloured
silk pennons.

These processions caused a great sensation in Cairo, and
the people received him with shouts of welcome. He used to
picture himself as Sultan before he became so ; he had, in
fact, become very powerful and was greatly feared.

On Friday, the 22nd, when the Sultan’s death was confirmed,
the preachers did not offer up prayers for the Sultan, nor was
his name mentioned from the pulpits, but only the Khallfah’s ;
and some said, “ May God appoint our best over us, and not
our worst.”

This state of affairs went on for a long time, Egypt remaining
without a Sultan, and likewise the dominions of Syria.
During this time the Arabs committed depredations in the
eastern and other districts. They plundered a number of
dwellings, carrying off all the cattle and sheep, and even
robbing the women of their jewellery. An enormous number
of Fellahin were killed during these troubles besides messengers

54

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

and others ; the roads were closed to travellers, affairs grew
even worse when the Sultan’s death became certainly known,
and confusion reigned in Egypt. All kinds of ill-omened
reports were spread as to the fate of the Sultan and his army.

The most notorious in these depredations were the followers
and a number of the ‘Ashlr of the Arab Sheikh Amir Ahmed
Ibn Bakar. They committed excesses, specially amongst
the soldiers and merchants, who came in with the caravans
from Syria; they killed great numbers of them, stealing
their property and camels. Those who escaped death were
stripped bare. In fact, the troops suffered worse things at
the hands of these Arabs than they did from Ibn ‘Othman ;
and this after they had reached safety, between Katlya
and Salihiyyeh.

It was also rumoured that the imported Memlooks had
planned to come down from the barracks to loot and burn
Khan al-Khalili and kill the Turkish merchants there, for
they said, “ These merchants are on the side of Ibn ‘Othman,
and exulted in the death of our master.”

When the Dawadar heard of this he summoned the officers
[55] in charge and said to them, “ I look to you alone to
prevent this sedition,” and forbade them to leave the barracks.
Had it not been for the timely intervention of the Dawadar,
who smothered the smouldering insurrection, Cairo would have
been completely wrecked by the imported Memlooks.

During the same month the Dawadar gave his attention
to the manufacture of certain weapons of war, such as
wooden shields and muskets and other things of this nature.
It was reported that he would become Sultan before the
return of the army. The mover in this matter was Amir
Takt Bai, Governor of the Citadel, and Amir ‘Allan, second
Dawadar. As on the previous Friday the preachers did not
mention the Sultan’s name in the prayers.

After Amir ‘Allan’s letter giving an account of the defeat
of the army and of the Sultan’s fate, there was an entire
absence of any authentic news for about forty days. All

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

55

kinds of rumours were afloat, one to the effect that Jan Bird!
al-Ghazali, Governor of Damascus, had stopped any going to
Egypt and had detained the army in Damascus.

News also arrived from Amir Husein, Deputy of Jeddah,
and al-Re’is Selman al-‘Othmani, that on proceeding on the
way to Hind (along the Arabian coast) with the army before
mentioned and arriving at Kamran (near Zabid, in Yemen),
a Hind village, they built a fortress with flanking towers,
completing it in about five months. Amir Husein then
dispatched a body of troops towards a place called al-Lihyah,
and another to Mura, whilst he himself with the rest of the
army remained at Beit al-Fityah for about a month. After
that Amir Husein and Re’is Selman proceeded with their
troops against Zabid, in the possession of ‘Abd al-Malik,
brother of Sheikh ‘Amir.

This he besieged, and captured it on Friday morning, the
20th of Jumada al-Akhirah, a.h. 922. They found a large
population there. The same letter also announced that
Husein, after taking Zabid, attacked the fortress of the town
of Aden, and nearly took it. Also that they had appointed
to the command of Zabid one of Ashraf al-Ghuri’s Memlooks,
one of the Amir s of Tens named Bars Bai. The latter had with
him some Memlooks and followers, being joined also by a
body of about 10,000 Arabs. So when Bars Bai became
possessed of Zabid he governed the place like a Sultan, and
appointed a Dawadar, a treasurer, and officials as Sultan’s
do. He and his troops acquired great spoils there.

During this month also the Dawadar inspected the troops
in Cairo. The inspection took place from his house. He
thought this necessary because he had intelligence that a
number of ships had been sighted outside the frontier towns of
Alexandria and Rashid ; and he was afraid they might have
been sent by Ibn ‘Othman. So he lost no time in parading
the soldiers and telling them to be on the alert, and to get
their kit (?) ready in case this news should be confirmed. Then
the mee ting broke up and the soldiers went off in frantic haste.

56

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

On Saturday, the first day of Ramadan, many of the
Deputy Judges called on the Dawadar and congratulated him
on the new month. The three Chief Judges and the Khallfah,
being prisoners of Selim Shah Ibn ‘Othman at Aleppo, were
[56] unable to return to Egypt. On Sunday, the 12th day of
Ramadan, corresponding to the 1st of the Coptic month
Babah, the Nile remained steady at 20 cubits ; it had risen
higher in the previous year, and continued unabated until the
1st of Hatur.

Then came the news by a messenger [already related in
pp. 46, 47] of the miserable condition of the troops who
reached Damascus, of the treachery of al-Ghuri’s former
friends, and that Ibn ‘Othman was sole, master from the
Euphrates to Aleppo. When the Dawadar heard of this
he ordered the Vali to take possession of the houses belonging
to Samarkandi and Yunus al-‘Adili. So the Vali went there
and arrested their families and retainers, placed Samarkandi’s
servant in irons, and put seals on his stores and on those of
Yunus al-‘Adili. They had been in secret correspondence
with Selim Shah Ibn ‘Othman, about the affairs of the Sultan
and the country. But the master of the house has the best
knowledge of what goes on in it.

On Friday, the 17th, the Dawadar said the Friday prayers,
and then went on to meet the Chief Amirs, who were arriving
from Damascus; he had heard of their reaching Belbeis.
[The list of names is here omitted.]

*****

The remnant of the army came, in the most pitiful state of
nakedness, hunger, and weakness, with their garments
opened at the neck, and manifested their grief about the
Sultan.

Thus the Amirs and the army made their way in. [Another
list of names is omitted.]

*****

Thursday, the 13th, witnessed the arrival of all the Amirs
that were left. After greeting them the Dawadar returned

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

57

[57] home, and with them came Amir Kansuh al-Ashrafi,
who was in charge of the fortress at Aleppo. He it was who
surrendered it with all it contained (see p. 48), although the
citadel of Aleppo was strongly fortified. Therefore, when the
Dawadar confronted him he severely reproved him, ordered
his imprisonment in the citadel-tower, and threatened him
with severe punishment.

Now on the return of the Amirs to Cairo, they were
unanimous for the election of Tuman Bai, the Dawadar, as
Sultan.

But he persisted in his refusal; the Amirs replied that there
was no one else but him, and that there was no way out of
it, whether he wished it or not. Then the Dawadar mounted
his horse and accompanied by a number of the leading Amirs
[list of names omitted] proceeded to Sheikh Abu Su‘ud, who
was at Kaum al-Jarih. When they were all seated they
explained the matter to him—of their desire that the Dawadar
should be Sultan and of the Dawadar’s refusal. Then the
Sheikh produced a Kor’an and made the Amirs swear on it
that if they made him Sultan they would not betray him
nor intrigue against him, but would cheerfully accept what he
said and did. And they all swore to this. The Sheikh made
them also swear that they would not go back to their old
oppression of the people, nor proceed against any except as
laid down by law; that they would abolish the tyrannical
innovations of al-Ghuri, including the impositions on the
shops, and carry on affairs as in the day of al-Ashraf Kait Bai,
and conduct the Hisbah as did Yeshbek al-Jemali when he was
Censor. Then they swore to all this, and the Sheikh told
them that Allah had brought all these disasters and
humiliations and Ibn ‘Othman’s victory only in response to
the curses of the people upon them both on sea and land.
To which they replied that they repented before Allah from
that day forth for their acts of oppression.

Then the meeting broke up and they left; the Sheikh Abu
Su‘ ud agreed to appoint the Dawadar as Sultan. The Dawadar

58

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

accepted their compact, confirmed by oath in his presence, and
became Sultan.

The accession of the Dawadar to the Sultanate took place
as will be described.

[58] At this point we will return to Ashraf al-Ghuri. [The
story of al-Ghuri’s advance against Ibn ‘Othman, his first
success and subsequent defeat in the battle of Merj Dabek,
of the Sultan’s death, and the disappearance of his body is
here repeated, which have been already told in greater detail
in pp. 41-4.]

*****

It was extraordinary that al-Ghuri was not buried at the
College on which he had spent some 100,000 dinars, thinking
that he would be buried in a fine tomb, but it was destined
to be otherwise, and he lay stretched out on the waste, the
prey of wolves and leopards. He died at about the age of
78, having reigned over Egypt and Syria for 15 years
9 months 25 days, every day of which seemed to the people
a thousand years.

As to his appearance, he was tall, bulky, big-bellied, fair-
complexioned, round-faced, sleek-eyed, and loud-voiced;
with a circular beard scarcely showing any white hair in it.
He was looked up to with awe as a king, satisfying the eyes
of all beholders with the magnificence of his pageants. Had
it not been for his tyranny and exactions, he would have been
one of the best of the Circassian Sultans, and, indeed, one of
the best of all the Sultans of Egypt. On Mondays and Thurs¬
days he used to go down to the Royal Enclosures (for game),
and on Saturdays and Tuesdays to the Maidan. He used to go
down by Sab‘ Hadrat, preceded by a pair of horses with
gold saddles and gold-embroidered saddle-cloths, and he would
often make riding expeditions on Bedouin saddles and broad
stirrups, and he used to fasten a golden girth round his waist
instead of the Ba'lbec waist-band. He used to wear rings of
ruby, turquoise, emerald, diamond, and cats’ eyes, and he
was addicted to smelling sweet scents, such as musk, aloes,

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

59

and amber. He was fastidious in his dress, fond of flowers,
fruit, and other dainties. He probably inclined to the
Nesimiyyeh views from his liking for associating with
foreigners. He was fond of planting trees and of gardens, and
of listening to singing birds, and of smelling fragrant flowers.
He drank out of gold cups, was fond of pleasures, eating and
drinking greedily. He was known as Kansuh Ibn Bibardi
al-Ghuri. He lived constantly in this luxurious way in the
king dom of Egypt, obeyed and feared by all, keeping a tight
hold over the Amirs and Nawabs and the soldiers. He was
unthwarted until he and Selim Shah Ibn ‘Othman, Emperor
of Constantinople, quarrelled, and he went out, as I have
[59] related, to meet him, and such a tragedy happened as
never happened to any other King of Egypt or elsewhere.

I have perused the history of kings,

And have not heard the like of such events ;

Time never ceases to work wonders and strange things amongst
men,

But such an event has never before happened to Sultan or
ruler.

Al-Ashraf al-Ghuri was our king.

But he practised tyranny and calumny amongst us,

Death rendered inevitable his defeat with his army,

That was written in the Divine Decrees ;

His deeds have recoiled on himself, .

And time has brought the retribution of Fate.

Amongst the Sultan’s virtues it may be said that he was
good-natured, controlled his temper, and considering his
strong passions was not over-violent. He had a great belief
in the dervishes and the pious, was a good judge of a man’s
capacities, and was not vituperative in fits of anger.

He understood poetry, and was fond of instrumental
music and singing. He was not excitable. He was very fond
of reading history and travels, and collections of poetry. He
was affable, liking joking and jesting in his company; though
rough-looking he was amiable and civil by nature—contrary

60

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

to the Turkish character. He had no haughtiness or self-
glorification in him, nor the extreme effrontery shown by
former kings in their doings.

When Jemal al-Din was hanged, the Sultan appointed
Muallim Ya‘kub, the Jew, to the Treasury. The latter acted
as Jemal al-Din had done. He considered himself entitled to
do as he liked with the property of individual Muliammedans.
In a single night the good silver nisf turned into mere red
copper. Adulteration of the coinage went on all through the
Sultan’s reign, up to his death. There is an axiom in the
sacred tradition : “ He who deceives us is not of us.”

[60] Amongst the evil practices he used to appoint the
inspectors and Arab Sheikhs over fief-lands and pious
foundations, and these would take many times their due.
From this period the affairs of the country steadily deteriorated.
Damascus and Aleppo also declined ; he used to make them
liable for large sums every year, and they in turn would wring
the money from their peasant subjects. So the owners of fiefs
and settlements were anxious to leave their country for another,
such was the oppression they suffered from their governors,
more especially the Arabs of Jebel Nabulus, on account of the
contributions that had been laid upon them for the infantry
at the time of the expedition. The result was anything but
good to the Syrian population.

Husein, Deputy of Jeddah, used to lay a tax of ten per cent
on the goods of Indian merchants, so they gave up coming
into the port of Jeddah, and its prosperity declined. There
was a scarcity of cotton-stuffs in Egypt, and also of goods
imported from Europe, of rice and of leather ; the ports of
Alexandria and Damietta similarly declined; European
merchants refusing to enter them owing to the extortions
practised there. He placed an impost on the sale of corn,
three nisfs being taken on every ardebb from the seller and
buyer, and an equal amount on melons and pomegranates.

He even put an embargo on salt. He renewed many taxes
of such a kind as were not even imposed by Huniades in his

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

61

time. No important trader escaped this system of extortion.
He laid contributions on the Amir of the Faithful al-Mu minin
al-Mustemsik Bi’llah Ya‘kub, and took a considerable sum
of money from him. He incurred many debts, which led to his
devising these schemes so as to pay the sum demanded of him.
Many Amirs died under his persecution, and several officials
were imprisoned until death.

*****

Amongst other wicked acts of the Sultan’s was the expulsion
of tt&Aulad al-Nas from their landsand employments without
due cause, putting imported Memlooks in their places. He
suspended the payments to infirm people, orphans of both
sexes, and children, which caused them grievous privations.
He removed the marble which was in the court of Yusuf,
Inspector of the Sultan’s private domains, known as the
Nisf al-Dunya, and put it in the Court of the Baisariyyeh
in the citadel. He deprived the people of what they had been
in the habit of receiving from the privy purse from time
immemorial. He re-established the system of taxing the
fief-holders before the rise of the Nile and the sowing of the
land, subjecting them to insults and reducing them to misery.
His avarice increased to such an extent that he wrung from the
small cultivators a share of the profits they made from the
cow-dung collected out of the gutters in the Maidan, making
them pay it into the imperial coffers. Every functionary and
employe suffered hardship from his daily extortions.

After the death of Amir Khair Bey, the treasurer, the Sultan
took to managing the Treasury himself. He used to spend
some of the large sums of money he obtained, on buildings
[61] which were of no benefit to his subjects, on the decoration
of walls, and the gilding of ceilings. This was a sheer waste of
the public money. He would run away from trials at law,
as a child runs away from school. None of the trials with
which he was concerned were conducted in a decent fashion,
but under repulsive conditions. He used to pay no attention
to cases of murder, but would hand them over to the sacred

62

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

tribunal, and the rights of the people in this respect were
disregarded.

He was very negligent about signing edicts, few, in fact,
received his signature, and business suffered hi consequence.
This led to the purchase of old stamps for an Ashrafi, that they
might be affixed to edicts for the transaction of business.
To describe all his faults in detail would occupy far too much
space.

[Then follow the names of the Khalifah and the Judges, the
secretaries, etc., here omitted.]

*****

[62] Among the buildings which the Sultan erected in
Cairo the following may be mentioned:—

The Mosque and the College, which he built at Sharabishlym
(i.e. the market of the makers of robes of honour, etc.), the
depot, stores, and quarters behind the college, near the dye-
works, and the double-pinnacled minaret which he added to the
Mosque al-Azhar. He also built the quarters there, and the
shops in the markets behind the Mosque, and the dwelling-
places at Klian al-Khallli. He restored the building of
Khan al-Khalili, and erected stores and shops there. He built
two dwelling-houses and two shops at Bab al-Kantarah,
and two dwelling-houses between the two walls and the mill
near the dye-works. He also built and highly decorated a
house for his son at Bundukaniyln, and erected a dwelling-
quarter and an inn there. He made the Maidan below the
citadel, and planted trees there brought from Syria, and
arranged a supply of water by channels from the Nile. On this
spot he constructed the belvederes and lake, the hall of justice,
and the night-shelter. He also built a Mosque behind the
Maidan and the Arab quarter, with a pulpit and a minaret.
He restored the citadel building, including the Dahlshah and
Baisariyyeh Hall, and the Hall of Columns, and the Hall of
the Fish-pond (?). He built the Coptic resting-place at
al-Housh, and restored the kitchen at the citadel and the
Fountain of the Faithful, giving a vaulted roof of masonry.

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

63

He also built the quarters and stores at the little market of
‘Abd al-Mun/im, the quarters and the depot at the great
bridge, and restored the buildings at Maidan Maharah, near
the Kanatir al-Siba 1 , building it of the famous bezil-stone,
it being formerly of brick. He also constructed an aqueduct,
bringing the water from the Derb al-Khauli to the Mauridat
al-Halfa, restored the Nilometer, and at the same place he
built the palace and the seats overlooking the river. He
restored the Kantarah Beni Wa’il, the Kantarah Jedidah, the
Kantarah al-Hajib, and the Kantarah al-Kharnubl, making
them high enough for ships to pass through. He also restored
the bridge of lions. He built the Mastabahs (seats 1), and
placed over them the pillars near the cupola of Amir Yeshbek
at Matariyyeh. He erected on the shore of the Salt Lake a
handsome citadel with towers, and a mosque with a pulpit;
and he built on to the fortress at Rashid a wall and watch-
towers to protect it. He restored the towers at Alexandria,
repaired the ‘Akabah road and the stone circle 1 and built
a caravanserai there, with towers at the gate. [63] He also
made storehouses there for the property of the pilgrims.
He built a caravanserai in Azlem, with warehouses in it,
like the one in ‘Akabah. He also dug wells in various watering-
places of the pilgrims.

At Mecca he built a college with a hostel for the students
and hermits there; he also renewed the water-supply at
Bazan, which had been cut off for some years. At Jeddah
he erected a sea-wall with several towers, to protect the port
against the Franks ; this wall was one of the best buildings
there. Many other good buildings which were of service to
the Muhammedans were erected under his auspices.

To sum up, it may be said that the Sultan al-Ghuri was the
best of the Circassian Sultans, notwithstanding some crooked

1 These “ consist of huge stone circles, some of them measuring 100 feet
in diameter, having a cist in the centre covered with a heap of large
boulders. These are nearly identical in construction with the Druidical
circles of Britain ” (Palmer’s Desert of the Exodus, pt. i, p. 140,
Cambridge, 1871).

64

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

ways. No succeeding king acted like him, or possessed his
soaring ambition and determination. He had the qualifi¬
cations of an emperor, and was a striking figure in royal
pageants. And there is no harm in quoting this “ zajal ”
composed by Sheikh Bedr al-Din, may God preserve him, in
lamentation over al-Malik, al-Ashraf, Kansuh al-Ghuri on the
occasion of the revolution aforementioned and what befel him.
*****

[64] The sun of the empire of al-Ghuri has set,

And the star of Ibn ‘Othman has risen.

This is the decree of the Lord of Heaven,

And the world turns round for ever.

Ibn ‘Othman showed open hostility to him by taking the
citadel,

And by preventing both the merchants and slave-dealers from
bringing Memlooks into Egypt,

Or furs or sables, squirrels and foxes.

We have no more woollen clothes; oh, the years we have
waited for wool!

But no merchant brings any.

The Amirs came to the king and said :

“ Ibn ‘Othman is rebelling against you.”

The great Amir was called Sudun,

He bore the unusual surname of al-‘Ajemi;

And the exalted Makarr AshrafI the Amir of Arms, named
Erkmas,

And the chief of the guards named Sudun,

He is as much trained as the other races.

Anas Bai was the chief chamberlain, brave in battle, a fine
swordsman;

Muhammed, called Chief Master of the Horse, was a son of
the Sultan,

Most noble, valued, victorious ;

The Sub-Dawadar was Amir ‘Allan; and if you would hear of
the Chief Amirs,

They were : Ibn Chirkess, a great leader, and Tamr, known as
the Armourer;

Jan Balat and Kurt Bai, some forty others, and more,

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

65

Bands heralding victory, mounted men in large number, and
‘Asharawats of Turks.

These all held council together, and said :

“ Our hearts and spirits are weary, but’ we are all going out to
battle,

With led horses, arms, and accoutrements ;

We unsheathe the sword to win victory for the Sultan,

We shall defeat the Turk and tread down his country.”

Like gamblers they wagered their lives, each one casting with it,
Not knowing what all-conquering fate has in store for him.
The 15th of Rebi‘ al-Akhir, 922 (dated from the Flight of the
Guide and Intercessor for mankind
On the Resurrection Day) was the date of the Sultan’s
departure

On the expedition against Ibn ‘Othman, intent on conquering
the dominion of Syria.

[65] The Amirs were arrayed in his "service,

Vying with one another in the splendour of their retinue,

With their splendid Memlooks and battalions.

The departure from Cairo was under the decree of the Almighty;
The Sultan was accompanied by his chosen secretary, Kadi
Mahmud, in a Utter

With the chief judges and their deputies, each doing his best,
And the Khalifah, al-Mutewekkil, son of Ya’kub Muhammed,
Whose good deeds are commended ;

With him also went his Chief Minister, with a view to the robes
of honour,

• The mouthpiece of his yea and nay ;

Al-Kasrawi was his chief executive officer and Commander-in-
chief of his army.

They entered Syria with a cavalcade the like of which had never
before been heard of nor seen;

Nor king, nor Sultan, nor any other had been attended by such
a concourse.

From Damascus, Aleppo was entered, and its rugged and
smooth places traversed.

Selim Shah, hearing thereof, showed that his nature was struck
with amazement.

He sued for peace, sending an envoy with gifts and costly
garments.

S

66

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

They said : “ Peace is in the hands of the Lord of Decrees,
Whosoever opposeth him turneth right guidance into error;
Man is the bearer of the trust committed to him,

The lofty mountains refuse to carry it.”

Our Lord ordained the sparing of blood,

And saved the believers the trouble of fighting.

The spies of al-Ashraf al-Ghuri returned ;

They informed him of a plot against him.

They said : “ Beware of trusting to Ibn ‘Othman’s peace,
And know that he is treacherous towards you.”

He believed their words, and started for Aleppo with his hosts
for battle;

He found the Turks [Rum] fully armed, and the quivers
equipped with arrows.

Such a struggle took place between the armies as would have
turned the hair of. children white to hear of;

Allah gave the Egyptians victory over the Turks.

Their cavalry was seen at noon bearing down upon them.

Man knows not what is laid up for him,

Nor towards what destiny he is moving ;

Ibn ‘Othman had troops lying in ambush on his left,

Whilst our men were busy plundering the Turks,

They attacked on our right flank, and the Sultan gave a cry
for help.

And there were robbers by him.

He was thrown from his horse, and lay moaning ;

His cousin Bibars and Ak Bai Tawil hurried up to his aid,

But courage cannot avail against numbers ;

They cut them up with the sharp sword.

Glory to the Lord of all movement!

Allah makes a cause for the death of each.

Al-Ghuri’s defeat was a great surprise, written in history with
letters of gold.

What happened to him took place on the 2nd of Rejeb of the
year a.h. 922.

[66] I ask God to brighten the future, and that He should
make the gainer into the loser once more ;

That it may please him to remove shame from us by giving
revenge,

By bringing defeat on the head of the infidel;

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT *57

I desire revenge for the death of al-Ghurl, maybe I shall attain
my wishes;

Joy will be mine on that day, and they will sing to the string
or the Tar ;

Then I shall not fear the bird of ill.-omen, if it croaks in our
house or flies over it.

Al-Ghuri’s end was a strange thing, he went stalking with his
foot to his death ;

We had taken all things into account, but that which befell
him did not cross our minds.

I weep for al-Ghurl, a well of blood flows for my grief ;

I long for eyes from the people [to help in my weeping];

From early morning till the sun set.

During the time of his reign happiness kept watch over him
till the evil eye struck him;

The steed disappeared amongst the enemy, it threw him, he
died, tears flowing from his eyes.

All who were jealous for him were glad when he had set out
against the raider.

I have likened this army to a garden,

In which the flowers on the branches are the horsemen,

The skirt on the coat of mail is the zephyr on the river.

And lo, he [=GhurI] appears like a drawn sword.

The vestment over the armour was as a full-blown red rose
amongst gardens ;

The bunting was like gilt branches of willow guarded by sword-
poles [i.e. swords in lieu of poles];

The wounded bodies were like the jasmine, encircled by red
poppies.

In the sky of the battle appeared horsemen like stars adorning
their uniform ;

The spear-points were like shooting-stars, and their helmets
like stars on suns.

The Sultan was like the eclipsed moon amongst them, their
strokes on the shields were like thunder.

Methought arrows were being launched from the rainbow at
the armies in a dust-storm like night;

The sky raining penetrating darts on the enemy and incessant
rain.

68

THE OTTOMAN’ CONQUEST OF EGYPT

These soldiers were like garden-fruits, their blood the spilt
juice of the grape ;

This one yellow as the colour of the apricot, another like
the colour of the Jujube, another like that of a helmet.

No one has ever seen such an engagement as this one ;

Do not speak to me of Nasir, nor of Barkuk.

The Amirs resemble fruitful trees in the gardens, diffusing the
most exquisite perfume ;

The guns hurled large quinces, or pomegranates, and remind
one (?) of the proud stallions (?).

How much do I try to console my heart, and say to it, “ Heart,
reflect,”

Where is Suleiman, where Nimrod, where Pharaoh, and where
Caesar ?

[67] Where are the kings of other times, and he with the two
horns, called Alexander ?

Where Chosroes Naushirwan and his pavilion ?

He is dead, and his palace (i.e. at Ctesiphon) remains
deserted;

Everything passes on by the decree of the Ancient of Days,

It is only the first and last who abides.

Were but a porter of this town to bet on a game, and lose,

We of his kindred would be sorry for his defeat;

What, then, say you to the Sultan al-Gburi, being stripped and
killed and dying in distress ?

Fifteen years nine months and twenty-five days it was exactly
from the beginning of his reign.

A marvel there was in the death of Ghurl, nothing fated can
be averted by caution ;

The day he rode out with the cavalcade he knew not what was
written on his forehead ;

The tongue of circumstance told him that there remained of
his life three months.

Awake from the sleep of carelessness, shorten the length of
hope ;

Nine days of the month must pass, and on the tenth comes thy
destiny.

The Sultan was a chief courageous, the rear of Ibn ‘Othman's
army seemed to be wrecked ;

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

69

The wind blew and loosened his boat, Ibn ‘Othman was floated
off, and his victory was manifest;

The ships were sunk, and the sailors, with his sword he drove
them all into the sea.

Their bodies and their blood made their sea into a land crowded
with corpses; " *

And when he sailed away their land was as a sea flowing with
blood.

The Creator, our Lord, the Lord of Glory, had unveiled for
him the bride of the beauty of his kingdom,

But hid from him that he would fall dead from his horse on the
day of battle ;

It was concealed from him that he would die defeated,

And that his place of burial would never be known.

How many an augury he drew from the sand and the saint-
augurs, God’s augury is the most potent;

So all that he was depending on blew away, and this no bird
had ever revealed to him.

I begin and end my verse by praising the Chosen One ;

The lizard and the shoulder of mutton and the camel spoke
to him ; 1

The trees hastened to his service, and' the gazelle, whose
tradition is well known ;

The stones in the palm of his hand spake to him ;

The moon was slit in two for him, after it had reached its full
size and brightness ;

He satisfied his army with (a little ?) food, and the water
flowed gushing from his finger.

If they say Abu al-Neja al-‘Aufi is unequalled in the city for
his poetry,

[68] 0 thou who comest to hear the pearls of his verses,

Take and write down the wonders of his chronicle ;

1 For these miracles vide. Abu Nu'aim, “ Dela’il Al-Nubuwwah ”
§§ 22, 23. A Jewess named Zainab attempted to poison the
Prophet at Khaibar by dressing a kid, and having steeped it in deadly
poison placed it before the Prophet, who ate but a mouthful when the
deed was discovered. Zainab was immediately put to death (Hughes’
Dictionary of Islam).

70

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

If one comes to you demanding the time and the story of the
Kings,

Tell him that the Sun of al-Ghuri has set, and the Sun of
Ibn ‘Othman has risen. '

This was the decree of the God of Heaven, and the world goes
round for ever. '

AN ACCOUNT OF THE REIGN OF ASHRAF ABU
AL-NASR TUMAN BAI

This Sultan was the 47th of the Turkish Kings and their
sons in Egypt, and the 21st of the Circassian Kings and their
sons. He was originally one of the slaves of Ashraf Kait Bai,
having been purchased by the Sultan Kansuh al-Ghuri, whose
protection he sought on grounds of relationship. After
purchasing him the Sultan presented him to Kait Bai, for
which reason he was called Tuman Bai “ Min ” 1 Kansuh. He
became one of his Kitabi Memlooks, 2 and retained this
position until the accession of Malik Nasir Muhammed Ibn
Kait Bai, who gave him horses, uniform, and slave boys, and
he became one of the persons promoted by al-Nasir. For
some time he was a page in waiting, then one of the personal
suite, remaining in this position until the accession of his
kinsman Kansuh al-Ghuri. This latter conferred on him the
rank of a Decurion, which he retained until the year a.h. 910 ;
then when the Sultan’s son died the Sultan gave him the
Emirate of the Tablkhanah, and made him keeper of the
cellars in the place of his deceased son.

In this post he remained until the year a.h. 913, but when
the Amir Azdamar Ibn ‘All Bai, Chie Dfawadar, died, in the
month Jumada al-Ula, whilst travelling in Jebel Nabulus,
the Sultan gave him a robe of honour, and made him Chief
Dawadar instead of the deceased Amir. He kept this office

1 For use of “Min” see Sobernheim’s article on Janbalat in
Encyclopedia of I dam.

3 From ii, 92, it appears that these were Memlooks who were on
a register.

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

71

until the Sultan left on his expedition against Ibn ‘Othman,
when he was made Viceroy during the Sultan’s absence [69].
He conducted the government during this time extremely well;
the people were contented and the troops left behind in Egypt
obeyed him. He combined the offices of Chief Dawadar,
Lord High Chamberlain, Chief Inspector, and Viceroy. He
used to ride out towards the Matariyyeh every Monday and
Thursday, passing through Cairo after entering it by the
Bab al-Nasr. He was preceded by a strong force of soldiers
and chief Amirs, by runners and slaves who fired naptha
from instruments, and there was great commotion in Cairo
as he passed through. He also opened the dam in the Sultan’s
absence, which occasion was observed as a public holiday.

[Here follows the story already told on p. 57 of the choice
of Tuman Bai to be Sultan and his refusal, and of the Amirs
referring the matter to Sheikh Abu Su‘ud.]

Tuman Bai pleaded a variety of excuses—that there was
no money in the Treasury, so he could not spend anything
on the Army; that Ibn ‘Othman was master of Syria and
was advancing on Egypt, while the Amirs would not consent
to go upon a second expedition. He also said that if he
became Sultan they would betray and depose him, and
imprison him in the frontier town at Alexandria, and only
retain him on the throne for a short time. Then followed the
administering of an oath of fidelity to the Amirs, and the
acceptance of the sovereignty by Tuman Bai. On Friday,
the 14th of Ramadan of this year, after saying the early
morning prayers, the Dawadar, accompanied by the chief
Amirs, and preceded by men carrying lamps and torches,
rode up to the Bab al-Silsilah and took up a position there.
He had started from his house in the Babashak road by the
Salibah Gate, wearing a light turban and a white cape—the
Amirs accompanying him being similarly dressed—and being
greeted as he passed by voices praying for blessings on him,
and by cheers from the women at their windows. On arrival
at the Bab al-Silsilah he sent for the Amir of the Faithful

72

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

Ya‘kub, father of the Amir of the Faithful al-Mutewekkil ‘ala
Allah. The Amir attended at the summons, accompanied by
Seyyid Harun, son of the Khallfah Muhammed al-Mutewekkil
'ala Allah, and their cousins the children of Khalil.

Others attended with a number of Deputy Judges from
Cairo. [Names omitted.]

* * * * *

When all were assembled, including the chief Amirs and
others of high or low rank, and the troops, Amir of the
Faithful Ya‘kub produced an authority from his son
Muhammed al-Mutewekkil to represent him, with full powers
[70] in all matters concerning either himself or the Khalifate.
He had sent confirmation of this by the hand of Kadi Shems
al-Dln Ibn Wahlsh. This was accepted as correct. It had
been rumoured that the Khalifate would be conferred on
one of the sons of Seyyid Khalil, since the Khallfah al-
Mutewekkil ‘ala Allah was a prisoner in the hands of Ibn
‘Othman, and his father Ya’kub had abdicated the Khalifate,
but when this document was produced bearing the authority
of his son the people were satisfied.

Others also, being prisoners in the hands of Ibn ‘Othman,
were not present at the ceremony of swearing allegiance.
[Names omitted.]

* * * * *

None of the distinguished Shafi‘1 deputies were present at
this ceremony except SherefI Yahya Ibn Burdlnl.

The oath was administered to the Sultan by the Khallfah
Amir al-Mu’minln Ya‘kub, and witnessed by SherefI Yahya
Ibn Burdlnl, and a number of deputy judges representing
Muhammed al-Mutewekkil, the chief HanefI Judge Muhammed
Ibn Shahna also attended at the close of the ceremony.

As soon as the oath had been taken the royal insignia
were brought to the Sultan, that is to say, the black cloak,
the black turban, and the Bedawi sword. The rites of
investiture were completely performed ; he assumed the title
of al-Malik al-Ashraf like his kinsman al-Ghurl. Then his

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

73

special charger was brought up without either horse-cloth or
gilt saddle, nor could they find for him in the armouries either
parasol or bird, or gold drapery.

The Sultan rode from the' Harrakah steps at the Silsilah
Gate, preceded by the Khalifah, and went into the Great
Palace by the private gate, and there took his seat on the
imperial throne. Then the Amirs kissed the ground before
him, and the glad tidings were sounded from the citadel.
His name was proclaimed in Cairo, voices were raised in prayer
for him, and there was no one who was not glad at his accession.
Being gentle, he was beloved by the people, and being free
from pride he desired harm to no man. After the oath¬
taking the Sultan conferred a robe of honour on the Amir
al-Mu’mimn, and went down to his palace in the midst of
a grand procession.

Thus ended the reign of al-Ghuri. Praise be to Him whose
kingdom never wanes ; and to quote the words of Muhammed
Ibn Kansuh : “ Al-Ghuri has gone to his Lord in obedience
to the decree of Allah, to whom kingdoms belong, and to the
sovereignty of which he appoints of his servants whom he
wills.”

At prayer-time on that Friday the Sultan(T uman Bai)
went out to prayers, and his name was mentioned in the sermon
by Sherefi Yabya Ibn Burdini, and likewise on succeeding
Fridays. Moreover, the preachers made reference to the Sultan
in their sermons on that day from the pulpits in the mosques
in Cairo ; for the previous fifty days no Sultan’s name had
been thus mentioned, nor prayers offered for him, but only
for the Khalifah.

On this day the Sultan arrested Kansuh al-Ashrafl, Governor
of the Citadel of Aleppo, who had surrendered without
resistance to Ibn ‘Othman. So when this Kansuh attended
under escort the Sultan expressed his displeasure, and ordered
his confinement in the Citadel Tower, until his wishes con¬
cerning him should be made known.

On Saturday, the 15th of Ramadan, there arrived a number

74

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

of Amirs, who had remained behind at Damascus after the
troops had left. Amongst these were (1) Amir Jan Bird!
al-Ghazali, Governor of Hamah; he had aspired to the
governorship of Damascus; (2) Amir Sudun Dawadar,

[71] Chief of the Corps of Guards; (3) Amir Kansuh Kurt,
one of the chief Amirs, who arrived sick. On their arrival they
found that the Dawadar [Tuman Bai] had succeeded to the
throne. This gave offence to Amir Sudun, the Dawadar,
who, whilst he was absent in Syria, had been counting
on becoming Sultan himself. His wish, however, was not
realized.

On their arrival they went up to the citadel, made their
obeisance to the Sultan, and then went to their homes.

Then came news from the Amir of the Arabs of Hamah,
Amir Nasir al-Din Ibn al-IIanash, that Ibn ‘Othman had sent
a detachment under Ibn Suwar, who had declared his allegiance
to him. At Kabun, near Damascus, they were met by Ibn
Hanash, and a bloody battle ensued, in which a number of
Ibn ‘Othman’s men were killed. The rivers of Damascus
were let loose against them, their horses stuck fast in the mud,
and a great number of them perished in this way, as told
by the reports received. Then I wrote:—

Tell Ibn ‘Othman, if you meet him, to take advice, •

Not to be rash and to beware,

Lest he withstand a Syrian without due forethought,

And run against the sting of Ibn Hanash.

Along with the Amirs many of the notables of Damascus
came with their families, for after the defeat of the army
and the death of Si Bai, the Governor, confusion reigned there.
Some of the people of the city attacked the others, plundering
the brokers’ quarter, killing a number of persons, and taking
their property. The Frank merchants were similarly treated,
and terrible riots prevailed. The judges and leading native
merchants of Damascus had their houses pillaged, and this
and the troubles caused by Ibn ‘Othman, and the general

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

75

ruin of affairs in Egypt and Syria led to the quitting of the
city by the majority of them.

When the Sultan learnt of the success of Nasir al-Din Ibn
Hanash against the troops of Ibn ‘Othman, he appointed him
Governor of Homs. It was said that imperial instructions
were sent to him to the effect that if he could defeat Ibn
‘Othman’s army the Sultan would make him Atabek of
Damascus ; and that Ibn al-IIanash replied that if the Sultan
would assist him with troops, he would collect a force of
Arabs and personally guarantee the defeat of Ibn ‘Othman’s
army. One of al-Hanash’s ancestors was formerly Governor
of Homs.

On the same day a person named Inal, the squint-eyed,
arrived. He had been appointed Deputy of Safad by Jan
Bird! al-Ghazali. On sending his Dawadar and executive
officials to Safad they were attacked by the inhabitants, and
not allowed to enter the town, and some, it appears, were
killed. So he went to Egypt to be invested, meaning to return
and take revenge on the people of Safad.

On Monday, the 17th, the Sultan paid the troops in his
private ground's. On the same day there arose a dispute
among the Amirs as to their various offices; there was also
a quarrel between Amir ‘Allan, the Sub-Dawadar and Jan
Birdi al-Ghazali, in which both parties overstepped the
bounds of moderation. Then the Sultan gave orders for
the inspection of the troops who had not taken part in the
expedition, but remained behind in Egypt. He also
proclaimed that any one who had taken possession of arms
or clothing belonging to the troops was to restore them at
once, under penalty, if denounced, of immediate death by
[72J hanging. Information had reached him that a number of
servants and slaves on the expedition had stolen many things
in the shape of money, arms, uniforms, etc.

Amongst matters of less consequence it may be mentioned
that the Sultan, on his accession, ordered the stone seat to
be pulled down which al-Ghurl had put up in his private

76 THE OTTOMAN’ CON'QUEST OF EGYPT

grounds, in place of the dais 1 which Ashraf Kait Bai used to
sit on ; so the stone seat was replaced by the dais once more,
and the Sultan used it. It had been broken, but he had it
repaired, and made a yellow cloth covering for it. He used it
as a judgment seat for hearing trials, like Ashraf Kait Bai,
and I said :—

The Dais of Justice has come back,

The “ Mastabah ” of Injustice has been pulled down ;

Tuman Bai has become amongst the people

As one who causes the wmlf to live with the sheep in peace.

Oh ! what a king he is ! his justice has become notorious
Amongst Arabs, and people of other countries.

On Tuesday, the 18th, the Sultan sat on the dais and
reviewed the troops in his private grounds, and enrolled
about two thousand Memlooks, and gave appointments to'
some six chief Amirs who were in Cairo. He gave the command
of the troops to Amir Jan Bird! al-Ghazali, who had aspired
to be Governor of Damascus. On the same day the Sultan
arrested the Mihtar Muhammed Fujuli and his brother
‘All, Superintendent of the Wardrobe in the service of the
Sultan al-Ghuri. He also arrested Jemal al-Din al-Alwahi,
Guardian at Dahishah. This was the Sultan Tuman Bai’s
first judgment, given for the following reason. When he came
to the throne he inspected the treasuries and found them
empty, with neither a dinar nor a dirhem in them. The Sultan
al-Ghuri had, on the death of Amir Khair Bey, appointed
these two, Muliammed the Superintendent and Jemal al-
Din the Guardian, as financial advisers, and they did as they
pleased with the money. They became insolent and interfered
in affairs which were out of their province, never th inkin g
that the Sultan al-Ghuri would die when he did ; and it was
this belief of theirs that was one of the chief causes of their
ruin. Some one rightly said : “ These are things to make
fools laugh, and the wise to weep at their consequences.”

1 Platform, high wooden sofa.

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

77

On Thursday, the 20th, the Sultan held a grand full dress
court, he himself being seated on the dais in his private
grounds, and conferred robes of honour on about twenty
Amirs [names omitted].

*****

[73] On Tuesday, the 25th, the Sultan conferred a robe of
honour on the Sheikh of the Arabs, Amir Ahmed Ibn Bakar,
and confirmed him in his appointment. The tribe of the Amir
had committed excesses during this year, such as do not occur
at the hands of the Franks, murdering people and plundering
property. Notable outrages were committed by Ibn al-
Judhami on the troops returning after their defeat, and by
the tribe of ‘Abd al-Da’im in the east of the country, in the
shape of plunder and murder, and no one troubled himself
about it. However, a robe of honour was conferred on the
Sheikh, and no more was heard of these doings.

On Thursday, the 27th, the Sultan gave robes of honour
to several Amirs [names omitted],

* * * * *

[74] On Saturday, the 29th, the Inspector of the Sultan’s
private domain came up with the festival robes and displayed
them to the Sultan, spread out over the heads of the porters.

On Sunday, the last day of the month, Nasiri Muhammed
Ibn Bal Bai al-Mu’eyyed from Damascus arrived with the news
that Selim Shah Ibn ‘Othman had taken possession of the
city and citadel and had killed ‘AH Bai al-Ashrafi, Governor
of the citadel, and thirty-six Amirs of Damascus, besides some
of the Sultan’s subjects living there. This Ibn Bal Bai
arrived dressed as an Arab, with a native cloak and head-dress.

When it became known in Cairo that Ibn ‘Othman was
'in possession of Damascus the people were terror-stricken,
and said that it would be Egypt’s turn next. They were
firmly convinced that it would come to this, and some
determined to fly to Upper Egypt. Both the Sultan and the
Amirs and all the people were much disturbed at this news,
especially as it was the eve of the “ Festival of Fitr ”, and the

78

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

sorrows of the people were still fresh, owing to the death of the
Sultan, the defeat of the army, and the mourning for the men
who had fallen. And I said :—

0 Ibn ‘Othman, desist from taking Egypt,

The land which is dignified with the best of Imams;

Our chief Imam is al-Shafi‘1, a Polestar and a saint,

The son of Idris, a pillar of Islam.

She is called the Quiver, and whoever attacks her—

God will break his back with a sword.

On Monday, the first day of Shawwal, the Sultan offered
up the festival prayer, and conferred robes of honour on the
Amirs and the usual persons. The SharafI Yahya Ibn
al-Burdlnl mentioned the Sultan’s name in the Khutba, and
a grand festival procession took place. On Friday, the 5th,
corresponding to the 4th of the Coptic month “ Hatur ”, the
Sultan exchanged his linen clothes for woollen; he did this
too hastily.

On this day Amir Janem al-Ibrahimi, one of the Amirs
of the Tablkhanah, died.

On Saturday, the 6th, two persons named ‘All Sha‘banl, the
deputy of the Muhtesib, and Ibn Khablz, the corn-broker,
came to the Sultan and pointed out to him that if he were to
impose a fixed rate on the market dues and on the crops it
would be no hardship to the Faithful. But the Sultan would
not hear them, and flogged them both. He publicly exposed
Sha‘bani in Cairo, causing him to walk bareheaded, and to
be beaten as he went; whilst a crier proclaimed this to be
the punishment for trying to re-establish unjust measures
[75] under a just government, after they had been repealed.
The Sultan then ordered Sha‘bani to be dismissed from the
office of adviser about the control of the market, and it was
reported that he died from the blows he had received.

On Monday, the 8th, the Dawadar deputy of Gaza, known
as ‘All Bey, the hunchback, arrived with the news that Ibn
‘Othman had suffered a set-back since his entry into Damascus.
Disease was rife amongst his troops, deaths occurring daily.

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

79

He also said that there was a scarcity of grain and fodder,
that the Arabs were endeavouring to stop the supply of barley,
wheat, and straw, and that when any of the soldiers went out
into the villages they were killed by the Arabs. Ibn ‘Othman
had penetrated so far that he could not withdraw ; his cavalry
horses were roaming about eating the leaves of trees, and were
much emaciated. On the same day Khuda Birdi, Governor of
Alexandria, also arrived; he had gone there to carry out
what had been settled; and Amir Khair Bey, the architect,
also arrived. He had been to the fortress of Rashid to see
. about the repair of the wall and the towers. *

On the same day the Sultan conferred a robe of honour on
a Turk named Mai Bai al-Musharref, and appointed him to be
personal steward instead of Kansuh al-Ashrafi, killed in the
engagement with Ibn ‘Othman.

On Tuesday, the 9th, a quarrel occurred between al-Zeini
Berekat Ibn Musa and Sheikh Abu al-Su‘ud, which arose thus.
A certain tanner and dealer in skins named Damrawi agreed
about the sale of some skins; Ibn Musa acted wrongfully
towards him, and a quarrel was started between them. Ibn
Musa determined to arrest him. Then Damrawi went to
Sheikh Abu al-Su‘ud and implored his protection. The latter
sent an abusive letter to Ibn Musa on the subject, which he
took no notice of, but kept him waiting about the matter.

Then the Sheikh summoned Ibn Musa, and on his appearing
before him at Kaum al-Jarih the Sheikh reproved him sharply,
saying: “ You dog, how you do oppress the Faithful! ” This
infuriated Ibn Musa, who left his presence in anger. So the
Sheikh ordered his head to be uncovered, and that he be
beaten with shoes on the head and body till he nearly died.
Then after securing him he sent for Amir ‘Allan, the Chief
Dawadar, and said to him, “ Put him in irons and go and
consult the Sultan about him, and inform him that the man
is injuring the Faithful.” The Sultan on hearing the case
sent to Sheikh Abu Su‘ud, telling him to act as he thought fit
in the matter. The latter ordered Ibn Musa to be publicly

80

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

exposed in Cairo and then hung at the Zawllah-Gate. Ibn
Musa was then brought out from the Sheikh’s quarters at
Kaum al-Jarih, walking bareheaded and in irons. It was
publicly proclaimed that this was the punishment of a man
who oppressed the Faithful. He was thus escorted to the
confines of Old Cairo, till at last they reached Amir ‘Allan,
the Dawadar’s, house at Nasiriyyeh. He desired to sign his
death-warrant by hanging or drowning, but the people pointed
out to the Sheikh that he owed the Sultan money, and that
if he were hung the Sultan would forfeit it. So the Sheikh
repealed ttie death-sentence, and Ibn Musa remained in irons
at Amir ‘Allan’s residence. Thus the affair between Ibn
Musa and Sheikh Abu al-Su‘ud was attended with grave con¬
sequences, which nearly culminated in the execution of the
former.

*****

[76] After all this trouble of Ibn Musa’s an enemy of his
named Shihab al-Din Ibn al-Sa’igh appeared upon the scene.
He had taken steps against Ibn Musa during al-Ghuri’s reign ;
and when this affair occurred he again brought up a charge. So
he said, “ I can bear witness to a debt of Ibn Musa’s to the
Sultan to the extent of 100,000 dinars.” Then Ibn, al-Sa’igh
went to Ibn Musa’s house, accompanied by eunuchs and
kavasses and a great many others, and attacked and arrested
Ibn Musa’s women, plundering their house property and
laying hands on his slaves, servants, and retainers.

When the Sultan heard this he gave up persecuting
Ibn Musa, who then said that he could bear witness to a
debt of 200,000 dinars against Ibn al-Sa’igh, so the Sultan
told Amir ‘Allan to send for Ibn al-Sa’igh and have him put
in irons until he should have settled his accounts. As to
Sheikh Abu al-Su‘ud, a storm of indignation arose against
him, on account of his treatment of Ibn Musa, and the poor
people and others found fault with him, saying, “ What
business has the Sheikh to interfere in the Sultan’s affairs.”

On Sunday, the 14th, the Princess, who was the daughter

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

81

of Amir Ak Bird!, the Dawadar, and wife of the Sultan, went
up to the citadel; her mother was the daughter of Khass
Bey and sister of Ashraf Kait Bai’s wife. She went up at the
time of morning prayers, with lanterns and torches, accom¬
panied by a great number of princesses and ladies, and the
wives of Amirs and executive officers. They formed a pro¬
cession until they reached the citadel, where she entered the
Hall of Columns. The chief eunuch of the bedchamber staff
held over her head the Umbrella and Bird 1 until she took her
seat on the throne. This day was observed in her honour, as
one of special celebrations at the citadel.

On Sunday, the Amir ‘Allan, the Dawadar, paraded Ibn
Musa and Ibn Sa’igh. A sum of 20,000 dinars had been
assessed against Ibn Musa, of which amount half was to be
applied to salaries, but he produced none of it. So the Amir
threw him down and beat him about twenty times, after
which he promised to produce the amount. Then the Amir
summoned Ahmed Ibn al-Sa’igh and beat him over four
hundred times, from which he nearly died ; his death, in fact,
was reported amongst the people.

On Thursday, the 18th, the Mahmal (the Holy Carpet)
was not dispatched from Cairo; no one, in fact, made the
pilgrimage owing to the disturbance caused by the rebelliofi
of Ibn ‘Othman. It was reported that he was going to send
a number of his soldiers to Mecca, with coverings for the
[77] Ka‘bah, but this was not confirmed. Then the Sultan sent
the eunuch Murhef by sea with the coverings for the Ka‘bah,
and the purses for the people of Mecca and Medina ; so he
proceeded to Sinai, and down to the sea from there.

On Friday, the 19th, it was reported that Sheikh Abu
al-Su‘ud had sent and released Ibn Musa from irons, and
showed that he had pardoned him, and he began to interfere
in political matters, and the people disapproved of this. On

1 A1 Kubbah wa A1 Tair, a term “ applied by historians to an umbrella
surmounted by the figure of a bird which was borne over the head of
a Sultan in certain pompous processions.” (Lane’s Modern Egyptians.)

6

82

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OK EGYPT

Saturday, the 20th, Zeynl Berekat Ibu Musa went to the
Sultan requesting him to restore him to his office; but the
Sultan paid no heed so he left him without effecting his
purpose, and remained under observation until he should
have completely satisfied the claims against him. He returned
home greatly humiliated, after his quarters in the Milk Market
had been illuminated in his honour and his adherents had
perfumed themselves with saffron. Consequently they were
much discouraged.

On Sunday, the 21st, the Sultan conferred a robe of honour
on Sheref al-Din Ibn ‘Ivad, and appointed him to be con¬
troller of the Treasury instead of Ibn Musa dismissed from
this office.

On Monday, the 22nd, the Sultan sent instructions to the
troops that on Tuesday the first instalment of pay would be
issued. On the same day news came from India 1 that the ships
which the Sultan al-Ghurl had dispatched had gone down
with all guns and arms and other things on board. A quarrel
had arisen between the commander, Salman al-Othmani,
and the local governor, al-Amlr Ilusein of Jeddah, and that
each of them had gone to a different part of India.

On the same day the Sultan conferred a robe of honour
on a Turk, Kajmas, formerly Steward in Benha al-‘Asel,
and appointed him to the Inspectorate of the Sharkiyyeh
Province, after cancelling the previous appointment. The
Sultan also issued pay to the troops detailed for active service,
giving to each Memlook fifty dinars. This they returned to
him, and jabbered and went out of the gate of the grounds in
a rage, intending to raise a revolt. But some of the Amirs
advised the Sultan to appease them by paying them a hundred
dinars each, as usual. So the angry soldiers were recalled,
and on their return the Sultan paid each Memlook a hundred
dinars, and three months’ pay, amounting to one hundred

1 “Hind,” according to Moslem geographers, was Southern India,
including the Indian Archipelago, with a part of Southern China, and
thence across the Indian Ocean to the east coast of Africa.

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

83

and twenty dinars. On that day he paid the men of four
barracks. It was reported that these troops were to march
out to Gaza with the Amirs’ and to occupy the town until the
departure of the great expedition in the spring. At this time
the Sultan sent to arrest a number of Greeks of Khan al-
Khallll, said to be corresponding with Ibn ‘Othman about
Egyptian affairs, and to have spies with them from him.
On arrest he put them in irons. The Sultan was reported to
have summoned the little boy, called Kasim Ibn Ahmed
Bey Ibn ‘Othman, who had accompanied al-Ghurl on the
expedition. After the defeat of the army he had returned
with the Amirs to Egypt, and having heard of a plot against
him the Sultan had fears for his life, so he brought him up
to the citadel and gave him quarters by the reservoir, allowing
him and his suite a competence.

At this time SherefI Yahya Ibn al-Atabek Ezbek Ibn
Tatakh arrived in Cairo. He had been living at Hamah,
[78] but fled thence when the place was captured by Ibn
‘Othman, and came to Egypt by sea from Tripoli.

The Sultan conferred a robe of honour on Amir Takt Bai,
Chief Chamberlain, and appointed him as adviser in the
Inspectorate of Buhairah instead of Yusuf al-Bedrl, in
addition to the duties of his office.

On Friday, the 26th, Kadi ‘Abd al-Kerlm Ibn al-Jl‘an,
brother of ShihabI Ahmed Ibn al-Jfan, arrived in Cairo.
He had been a prisoner with Ibn ‘Othman in Syria, but
escaped into Egypt disguised as a camel-driver, wearing
an Arab cloak and a skull-cap. He was accompanied by
Ahmed al-Dimyatl, a merchant in al-Warrakln. He informed
the Sultan that Ibn ‘Othman’s power had waned, that his
troops were at variance with him, that his communications
had been cut by Nasir al-Dln Ibn al-Hanash, and that the
Arabs were killing isolated soldiers in the villages. He also
told that Ibn ‘Othman had taken possession of the town of
Damascus and its citadel, and the citadel of Tripoli and Safad
and their provinces, and was master of the country from

84

THE OTTOMAN' CONQUEST OK EGYPT

Damascus to the Euphrates. A number of his Amirs had been
made governors in the towns he had captured, as in Aleppo,
Hamah, Homs, and other towns. It was said that Ibn al-
Hanash had sent an official communication to thp Sultan
to urge him to dispatch an expedition quickly, before Ibn
‘Othman had time to advance on Gaza. Then the Sultan
conferred a robe of honour on Kadi ‘Abd al-Kerlm, and went
down to his house.

On Monday, the 29th, the Sultan gave a robe of honour to
the son of the successor of Seyyid Ahmed al-BedawI, who
had been killed by Ibn ‘Othman in Aleppo, and appointed
him in his father’s stead. The newly appointed successor
left the citadel with a great procession with banners held
above him, and preceded by all the Ahmadiyyeh dervishes.

After the conferring of the appointments they went down
to the citadel, wearing their badges of honour, and were
received with loud acclamations by the people of Cairo, who
lined the streets to view the procession. These judges assumed
their offices at a time when Cairo was in extreme consternation
on account of Ibn ‘Othman.

On the same day the Sultan gave the final instalment of
pay to the troops detailed for the expedition, and the latter
began to make their preparations for departure to Gaza. It
was said that the Sultan paid about 2,000 of these Memlooks.

On Friday Malik al-’Umara Jan Birdl al-Ghazall, Governor
of Damascus, went up to the citadel and joined the Sultan
in the Friday prayers. Then the Sultan conferred on him
a robe of honour and gave him the rank of Pasha in command
of the troops detailed for the expedition. On leaving the
citadel the Pasha went to his tent at Raidanniyyeh,
[79] leaving the city without a regular procession, being pre¬
ceded merely by some led horses, drummers, and torch-
bearers and going before the Amirs and troops.

On Saturday, the 5th, the Sultan ordered the expeditionary
troops to leave the city that day, in order to join the Pasha,
saying that whoever failed to start would be dealt with

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

85

accordingly. However, a number of Memlooks appeared
before him refusing to start until he paid them six Ashrafis,
the price of a camel, and issued forage to them and meat
ration money. This caused some excitement, and the Sultan
left the assembly objecting to the claim. The troops were
dissatisfied, affairs were unsettled, and Ibn ‘Othman was
advancing on Gaza ; the Governor was asking for the dispatch
of troops before Ibn ‘Othman should capture the town of
Gaza, and thus cause the Sultan the trouble of recapturing
the country.

On Sunday, the 6th, one of the Amirs, commanders of a
thousand, of the expeditionary force left the city. He was
daily followed into camp by others, the Pasha in command,
Jan Birdi, remaining at Raidaniyyeh until the whole force
should be complete.

On Monday, the 7th, the Sultan paid three months rations
to the expeditionary troops ; each Memlook also received
about four and a half Ashrafis apiece as an extra
gratuity.

On the same day arrived two of the Royal Memlooks, who
had been in some of the villages with the Arabs, returning to
Egypt disguised as servants. They brought the same stories
of Ibn ‘Othman’s difficulties that had been told before [see
p. 83], and some said that Khair Bey had been killed. This had
no foundation in fact.

On Wednesday, the 9th, the Dawadar of Khair Bey, the
Governor of Aleppo, arrived ; he had made his escape from
Ibn ‘Othman. He brought the news that Ibn ‘Othman h.ad
dispatched a force of about five thousand cavalry under Ibn
Suwar, who was on the point of taking Gaza; in fact, according
to some accounts he had actually taken it, and the Governor
of Gaza was reported to have fled.

This intelligence caused great consternation; the Sultan
was deeply distressed ; he gave orders for the force to march
immediately, and that any absentees should receive the
punishment deserved. On Thursday the troops marched

86

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

off in hot haste. The Sultan also started, accompanied by-
all the Amirs, and people said that it was the Sultan himself
who would encounter Ibn ‘Othman. The Sultan took with him
the Governor of Aleppo, the great Amir, in irons, and a number
of the bodyguard of Gaza, also in irons. The Governor of
Gaza had reported against them that they had corresponded
with Ibn ‘Othman, suggesting to him that he should come
and take possession of Gaza unopposed. They, however,
denied this before the Sultan, and said that Dolat Bey, the
Governor, had a grudge against the Gaza guards, and had
invented this false story against them.

The Sultan then gave them credit for speaking the truth,
and sent Jan Bird!, Governor of Damascus, to acquit them
of the idle charge made against them. The Sultan released
those that were with him, and sent them to the Inspector-
General of the army to have their cases inquired into.

[80] On Friday, the 11th, further rumours were current
to the effect that Ibn ‘Othman had sent troops to Gaza, under
the command of his Amirs, one of whom was Iskender Pasha
and another Da’fid Pasha. It was also reported that they
had captured Gaza, and burnt some of the houses that the
Governor had fled, that Ibn ‘Othman’s troops were advancing
on Egypt, and that affairs were in a bad way.

When the Sultan felt convinced of the truth of this news
it was reported that he would himself go out to meet
Ibn ‘Othman. He gave orders that the roughs, the mis¬
chievous boys, the maghribis, and whosoever was in hiding
on. account of a murder or was blood-guilty would receive a
pardon on presenting himself. He would inspect them on the
Maidan, and give them pay and an animal to ride, and they
would be attached to the corps of armourers during the
Sultan’s advance. This proclamation gave offence to the
people, who did not like his pardoning murderers ; it would
have been better to have said nothing about this.

Complete confusion prevailed on that day throughout
Cairo ; the expeditionary soldiers left in a great hurry. Amir

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

87

Khuda BirdI al-Ashrafi, one of the chief Amirs, formerly
Governor of Alexandria, also left. He had no regular state-
procession, but was preceded by led chargers, and escorted
by a large body of his Memlook troops ; some said three
hundred Memlooks. All the people invoked blessings on his
head, and prayed for victory for the troops, being terror-
stricken on account of Ibn ‘Othman.

On Saturday, the 12th, the Sultan sitting on the dais in
his grounds received the Amirs and urged them to leave the
city that day. Then Amir Takt Bai, the Chief Chamberlain,
said that he had decided to go to Buhairah, as he had been
appointed Inspector there. To this the Amirs replied that it
was much more important for him to go out to fight Ibn
‘Othman than to go to Buhairah, and they further told him
that he did not go out with the Sultan al-Ghuri when he went
on his expedition, and that he had not been plundered of
baggage and uniform. To this the Amir made excuse that he
was not well. A great quarrel ensued between them in the
presence of the Sultan, and finally the imported Memlooks
planned to go and pillage and burn his house. Some of the
Memlooks are said to have struck him, and he suffered great
indignities at their hands. Ultimately he agreed to accom¬
pany the Amirs on the expedition, and the Sultan prevented
the Memlooks from plundering his house.

On that day the Sultan ordered the whole of the troops
to parade for inspection; also the Amir, who had been made
Governor of Hamah instead of Jan Birdi al-Ghazali, left the
city with a military escort.

That day Amir Erzamak Nashif, one of the chief Amirs,
also left the city. He formed a regular military procession,
and was preceded by led horses and two drums, and had
a banner held above his head. The Amirs gradually left the
city to join in the fighting against Ibn ‘Othman.

On Sunday, the 13th, the Sultan reviewed the expeditionary
troops in the Maidan. He went through the enrolment list
a second time, and only exempted a small number. He also

88

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

inspected four barracks and registered most of the Memlooks
in them for the expedition.

The same day the Sudan inspected a wooden vehicle drawn
[81] by oxen, and carrying musketeers; there were about thirty
or more of these vehicles. He also inspected camels carrying
an arrangement for musketeers to shoot from, on their backs,
also wooden shields as a protection against arrows. So the
troops that day felt in good heart for the fight. The Sultan
declared that he was going in person to take part in the battle
against Ibn ‘Othman, and he urged the rest of the Amirs to
leave with all haste for the fray. But he gave them no money,
saying that they must go out and fight for themselves, their
children, and their wives. “ There is nothing left,” he said,
“ in the Treasury ; I am one of yourselves ; if you go out,
I go with you ; and if you sit still, I sit still with you ; I
have no money to give you.”

On Monday, the 14th, it was reported that the Sultan
had become displeased with Zeini Berekat Ibn Musa, and had
restored him to internment, after he had seemed likely to
be restored to his office. The Sultan had charged Ibn Musa
with the payment of a certain sum, of which he produced only
a small amount, pleading inability to pay more. When the
soldiers had to be paid previous to their hasty departure,
the Sultan put pressure on those who had debts owing, of
whom were Ibn Musa, and Muhammed, the Superintendent,
and Jemal al-Dln, Guardian of Dahlshah, and others, from
whom arrears of money were due to help towards the payment
of the soldiers.

On the same day Amir Kansuh al-Fajir, one of the chief
Amirs, left the city to proceed on the expedition ; also Am ir
Takt Bai, Chief Chamberlain. The latter had a procession,
two drums and fifes, and some led horses going before him, like
Erzamak al-Nashif.

On Tuesday, the 15th, the Sultan inspected the remainder
of the troops in the Maidan, and ordered the Amirs with all
the troops who were still left to start forthwith under penalties

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

89

for disobedience. So the expeditionary army left in mid¬
winter, and suffered great hardships in consequence. On this
day Tan! Bey Nejml, one of the chief Amirs, left, having the
recognized war procession.

On Thursday, the 17th, Amir Elmas, Vali of Cairo, started.
Also on this day a foreigner, a sausage-maker, was arrested ;
he was found to have taken a fat black dog, and to have killed
it, and made it into sausages. On his arrest he was taken
before Amir Mamai, the Inspector of Markets, who caused
him to be beaten with rods, and publicly exposed in Cairo,
with the dog hung round his neck. After taking him round
the town, he was imprisoned at Makshara. The Franks had
been constantly committing atrocious acts of this nature.

On Monday, 21st, this occurrence took place : certain of the
royal Memlooks on their way out towards Matariyyeh saw a
party coming towards them from the direction of Birkah al-
Ilaj. These people when questioned said that they were
emissaries from the Sultan Selim Shah Ibn ‘Othman ; they
were about fifteen in number. The chief emissary was an old,
white-bearded man, dressed in velvet. In their company
was also a man from Egypt, ‘Abd al-Barr Ibn Mahasin, who
had been Treasury Secretary to Atabek Sudun al-Ajemi.
When the latter was killed [82], and Ibn ‘Othman took Aleppo
and Damascus, the secretary was won over by the influence of
Yunus al-Adili and al-Samarkandi. When Ibn ‘Othman sent
these emissaries they dared not come by Gaza, as the Governor
of Damascus, Jan Birdi al-Ghazali, was in the vicinity
besieging a force of Ibn ‘Othman’s which was in Gaza. So
they bribed some Arabs with a substantial sum to take them
by the Sultan’s road. This brought them by the desert to
Ajrud, and before people were aware of their arrival they were
in the centre of the town. The Memlooks, on meeting them,
arrested the chief emissary and his party, including Mahasin
and the three Arabs with them. Meanwhile, they were
approached by three Greeks from Khan al-Khallli, who
saluted them and kissed their hands. The Memlooks promptly

90

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

arrested them, and asked how they knew that the emissaries
were coming on this day, and said that they were spies of
Ibn ‘Othman’s. After beating them they brought them to the
house of Amir ‘Allan, the great Dawadar. At the house they
ordered the emissary to dismount and salute the Dawadar.
This he refused to do, using violent language against them.
He then drew his sword and threw himself on the Dawadar’s
people ; seeing this the Dawadar ordered the Memlooks to
compel him to dismount, who made him get off and took his
sword from him. They then fell upon him and his Turkish
companions, beat them, stripped them, and put them in irons,
after subjecting them to outrageous insults.

When the Sultan heard of this he summoned Amir Moghul
Bai Dawadar Sikkln, whom al-Ghurl had sent to Ibn ‘Othman,
and who had suffered abominable insults at the latter’s hands.
He was now ordered to go down, and to subject Ibn ‘Othman’s
emissary to the same treatment.

He took his comrades and went with them to Amir ‘Allan’s
house, with a view to subjecting them to insults or to killing
them (?). But Amir ‘Allan would not suffer this.

Then they brought 'Abd al-Barr Ibn Mahasin to the Sultan,
in whose presence he expatiated on the merits and the
greatness of Ibn ‘Othman. He recounted how eight hundred
Egyptians were beheaded by him in one day, on his entry
into Aleppo, including the successor of the Seyyid Ahmed
al-BedawI and other notables who had remained behind
there. He further reported that the troops of Ibn ‘Othman
amounted to over sixty thousand men; that the Khutbah
was delivered in his name from Bagdad to Damascus, and that
his coinage was current from Bagdad to Damascus. Also that
on his entry into Syria he set about building a wall with
towers from Kabun to the extremity of Damascus, securing
the town by gates in the walls; that he was animated by great
enthusiasm, and boasted that he would not turn back till he
had conquered Egypt and killed all the Circassian Memlooks
there. He told how Ibn ‘Othman would remain in seclusion

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

91

for a day at a time, while his soldiers killed the inhabitants
and committed atrocities. He said that they did not fast
during Ramadan, drank wine and buzah, and smoked
hashish (?).

[83] Neither did Ibn ‘Othman say the Friday prayers
except occasionally; these ugly stories had been circulated
about him, independently of Ibn Mahasin, by eye-witnesses
of the doings of his troops > in Aleppo and Damascus. After
this long account of Ibn ‘Othman’s actions, the Sultan said
in a fit of anger, “ You are a spy of Ibn ‘Othman’s and have
come here to obtain intelligence for him.” He then ordered
Ibn Mahasin’s imprisonment in the citadel tower, where he
remained some days, after which he was released at the
intercession of Atabek Sudun, the Dawadar.

The hearts of the soldiers sank at this account. Then the
Sultan ordered two of the Arabs to be hanged, who had
guided the emissaries along their unknown route. It was
also rumoured that a party of about forty of Ibn ‘Othman’s
men had come with them, and were hidden in Cairo.

On learning this the Sultan issued instructions to Khan
al-Khallll that no one was to harbour any of Ibn ‘Othman’s
men, on j>ain of being hanged forthwith.

Then the Sultan sent for the letters brought by the
emissaries, whom he had not given an interview. Amongst
them were a number addressed to the Amirs, executive officials,
and Egyptian notables. It appeared after the Sultan’s
perusal of the letters that they were mostly expressed in
Turkish, the purport of them being as follows : “ From his
Majesty to Amir Tuman Bai. It has been revealed to me
that I shall become the possessor of the east and west, like
Alexander the Great.” Much of the letter consisted of
threats and violent language, as for example : “You are
a Memlook, who is bought and sold, you are not fit to govern.
I am a king, descended through twenty generations of kings,
and have taken possession of the country by agreement
with the Khallfah and the judges.” After many similar

92

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

expressions, the letter continued : “ If you wish to escape
violent treatment let an issue of coinage be struck in our
name in Egypt, and let the Khutbah be delivered also in our
name; and become our governor from Gaza to Egypt,
while we will rule from Syria to the Euphrates. But if you
do not obey us, then I will enter Egypt, and kill all the
Circassians there, ripping open those with child and destroying
the unborn.” He made so great a display of grandeur and
power that may be God will desert him on account of his
excessive presumption. •

When this letter was read to the Sultan he wept and was
terrified. The imported Memlooks had agreed that if the
emissary came up to the citadel they would fall upon him
with their swords, so he did not appear there. The contents
of Ibn ‘Othman’s communication soon became known among
the people, and led to great confusion. Everyone was on the
watch for Ibn ‘Othman, saying : “ As his emissaries came to
us when we did not expect them, so he may fall upon us
unexpectedly.” People began to make strongholds for them¬
selves in the neighbourhood of the city, where they might be
hidden if Ibn ‘Othman entered Cairo. Others decided to take
their families to Upper Egypt, should his approach be con¬
firmed. A story was circulated that Khair Bey, Governor
of Aleppo, who had rebelled and submitted to Ibn ‘Othman,
[84] had written to some of the chief Amirs urging them to
tender their submission to Ibn ‘Othman, extolling his virtues
and just treatment of his subjects, and assuring them that if
he came into Egypt they might all retain their posts and
salaries. All this was mere trickery and deceit to facilitate
Ibn ‘Othman’s entry into Egypt.

Then the Sultan proclaimed that the next issue of pay
would take place on Wednesday, the 23rd ; he sat on the dais
in his courtyard and the troops came up to receive it. Each
Memlook had thirty dinars and three months’ pay, amounting
to twenty dinars ; but they threw it down before him and said,
“ We will not start until we have received one hundred dinars

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

93

apiece ; moreover, we have neither horses, nor clothing, nor
equipment, nor arms.” They left the citadel in anger. The
Sultan, extremely displeased, left the dais, and (???).
He said “ that he could not manage to pay one hundred
dinars to each Memlook, for the state coffers were empty;
that if they were not content they might elect whom they
chose to be Sultan, and he would go to Mecca or elsewhere.” So
there were disturbances that day. It was reported that some
Memlooks said to the Sultan himself, “ If you are Sultan
follow the custom of the former Sultans ; if you resign, may
the curse of Allah be upon you, and another will succeed you.”
The Sultan said to the troops, “ You received thirty dinars
from the Sultan al-Ghuri, and then you did not fight, but
forsook him and left him to his death.” The troops went
away in anger, and some said they quarrelled among them¬
selves. On the same day the Sultan ordered all the Amirs
of rank to come up early the next day for a final parade ; the
meeting was then dissolved.

On Thursday, the 24th, the Sultan took his seat again on
the dais, and all the Amirs and troops assembled. Seyyid
Muhammed Ibn al-Sultan al-Ghuri also attended, and the
Sultan said : “ Here is your Master’s son, ask him if his father
left any money in the Treasury; he will tell you, and if you
like to make him Sultan, I will be the first to kiss the ground
before him.” To this the imported Memlooks replied,
“ We will march without pay, to avenge our Master.” But
the Karanisah Memlooks said, “We will not march unless
we receive one hundred and thirty dinars, like those who went
on the former expedition.” Then the meeting dispersed,
many still murmuring, and there was much irresponsible
talk that day. Some reported that the Amirs said to the
Sultan: “ Do as al-Ashraf Kait Bai and al-Ghuri did ; take
money from the lands and pious foundations and endow¬
ments and fief-holders, and pay the army in that way, so as
to keep the enemy out of Egypt.” But the Sultan did not
approve. “ I will never introduce injustice,” he said,

94

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

“ during my government.” This was gratefully acknowledged
by the people, who blessed him for it. He would have been
within his rights, and they would have excused him had he
done it, as the object was to keep out their enemies, and he
could have replenished his Treasury in this way. But God
had disposed him to do good, and he will reap his reward for
this hereafter.

[85] On the same day it was reported that the Sultan had
sent to tell the adherents of Mu’ayyed and Mansur, and the
Amirs who were in Egypt to make preparations and to set
forth on the expedition, any man who did not go was to send
a substitute. It was said that some of the executive officials,
servants, and eunuchs were charged to provide a considerable
sum of money to help the Sultan. He at once set about the
sale of clothing, arms, provisions, woollen stuffs, furs,
sables, Ba'lbec coats, and other things. He also took
some money from the Sultan al-Ghuri’s son with which to
provide pay.

It was reported that the Sultan sent some of the court
officials to Atabek Kit al-Rahbl to escort him from the
fortress of Alexandria to that of Damietta. He also sent
imperial instructions to Zahir Kansuh, at the fortress of
Alexandria, that he was to reside in the palace of al-Malik
al-Mu’ayyed at Alexandria, that he was to ride to the mosque,
and celebrate the Friday prayers with the people, and to make
excursions in the direction of the gardens of Alexandria.

On Friday, the 25th, Amir Khair Bey, Architect, one of the
chief Amirs, with Amir Ezbek, the Gunner, left for the
expedition with the usual military procession.

On Saturday, the 26th, the troops went up for an inspection
parade, but none of the chief Amirs paraded, and the Sultan
concealed himself in Dahishah ; so the troops returned to their
homes after a fruitless errand.

On the same day the Sultan issued a proclamation forbidding
all excesses by the people, and that no Jew or Christian was
to sell wine, beer, or hashish, under penalty of being hanged

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

95

forthwith. But no one paid any attention to this order,
and things went on just as before.

On Thursday, the 1st, the newly appointed judges of the
previous month went to congratulate the Sultan on the new
month, and then returned to their homes. The Sultan then
informed the troops that pay would be issued on Saturday, the
3rd. He had agreed to pay fifty dinars to each Memlook,
and also five months arrears of meat rations and forage
allowance, which gave them satisfaction. The Sultan also
appointed about ten members of the Court to be Amirs of
Tens, amongst them one named Khair Bey al-Bajmakdar,
one of the best Memlooks of Ashraf Kait Bai. He also, it
was said, distributed one thousand dinars amongst the
dervishes in the monasteries and shrines at Karafah and
elsewhere. He further gave five ardebbs of wheat to each
monastery, desiring them to pray for victory to the Sultan
and destruction to the enemy. He also caused to be read a
number of khatmahs from the Kor’an at the shrines, including
those of the Imam al-Shafi‘i, the Imam al-Laith, and others.

The Sultan also urged the descendants of the Sultans, the
Amirs, and executive officials to make early payment of the
sums assigned them towards the pay of the troops. It was
said that he took a considerable sum of money from the
Sultan al-Ghuri’s son, and that al-Ghuri had, before he left
for Syria, assigned to his son the amount of one hundred
thousand dinars ; such at least was the report.

On Saturday, the 3rd, the troops went up to the citadel
to receive their pay, in compliance with the Sultan’s orders.
[86] On that same day came the bad news that the army
that had gone to Gaza had suffered defeat on Sunday, the 24th,
of Dhu’l Ka'dah. Strangely enough, al-Ghuri’s previous
defeat took place on Sunday, the 25th of Rejeb, there being
only a difference of one day in the two dates, a remarkable
coincidence.

Briefly the account was as follows: Jan Birdi al-Ghazali
started for the expedition a few days in advance of the troops,

96

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

the latter and the Amirs following in batches in a very dilatory
manner. Seeing their delay in joining. al-Ghazall collected a
party of Arabs and, accompanied by Amir Erzamak al-Nashif,
one of the chief Amirs, who had been appointed Governor of
Hamah, and Dolat Bai, Governor of Gaza, originally one of
al-Ghurl’s Memlooks, with a body of the Sultan’s Memlooks
advanced to Gaza. Marching along the Sultan’s road, they
cut across Ibn ‘Othman’s force, and a fierce battle ensued
at al-Sheri‘at near Baisan. The Ottoman troops were com¬
manded by Sinan Pasha, who had Amirs and a large body of
Turkish troops under him. The force with Jan Bird! was only
a small one. A most terrible fight ensued between them,
enough to turn one’s hair grey. It resulted in the defeat of
Jan BirdI and his Amirs and troops. Many Amirs were
amongst the slain. [Names omitted.]

*****

Amir Jan BirdI al-Ghazall and Amir Erzamak al-Nashif
were reported wounded, a great number of the Royal Memlooks
and servants were killed and their heads hacked about with
swords.

This news was said to have come from al-Amlr Takt Bai,
High Chamberlain. It was just after he had left to take part
in the expedition, and was waiting at Salihiyyeh, that some of
the Royal Memlooks came and reported what had happened.
So he sent to tell the Sultan of the terrible conflict. It was
said that Ibn ‘Othman’s men had taken possession of the
baggage of al-Ghazall and Erzamak al-Nashif, after the battle,
and that they were left with neither baggage nor arms, nor
horses nor camels. This second victory added fresh vigour to
the Ottoman troops. Of the Egyptians, only he escaped whose
life was destined to be prolonged. It was said that al-Ghurl’s
Memlooks were those who had noticed the army (of the
Turks), and were the first to flee, and so brought about this
second defeat.

In view of the many different reports, Amir Sunbul, chief

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

97

of the Memlooks, was sent to Salihiyyeh to obtain intelligence,
and he started at once.

On Sunday, the 4th, this terrible incident occurred : The
Sultan went to the Maidan and was joined by the Amirs and
troops. Suddenly a great clamour arose in Rumailah, and the
report was spread that Ibn ‘Othman’s army had arrived at
Raidaniyyeh. Then the Sultan said : “ How many times have
you been ordered to march off on the expedition, and have been
unwilling to go ; go out now and meet Ibn 'Ot-hman ! ” So
the troops armed themselves and marched off ; and there was
a horrible clamour in Cairo, and people stored away their
clothing in secret places. In the midst of all this confusion,
[87] the troops mounted and proceeded to Raidaniyyeh,
but finding that the Turks were not there, they returned
to their homes, after Cairo had been convulsed and people
had made up their minds to hide in the cemeteries. It
then appeared that a party of Arabs had come down from
the hills to Raidaniyyeh, and a man who saw them at
a distance reported that they were Turks, and this false report
was published in Cairo. To-day the Sultan released Amir
Kansuh al-Ashrafi, formerly Governor of Aleppo, who had
surrendered the citadel without resistance (p. 73).

*****

On Monday, the 5th, the remnant of the Amirs and troops
who had been defeated at Gaza by Ibn ‘Othman returned to
Cairo. Among them was Jan BirdI al-Ghazall and Erzamak
al-Nashif, and certain subordinate Amirs. They arrived in
the most pitiable state, the plunder and slaughter had been
worse than before. Some of the imperial Memlooks came back
on donkeys, some on camels, all having been deprived of
uniforms, horses, and arms.

None survived, in fact, but a few for whom fate had so
decreed. They said that some of Ibn ‘Othman’s troops
were armed with hooks on their lances, with which they
dragged the rider from his horse, and threw him on the
ground. Jan BirdI said that he was thus thrown down,

7

98

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

and had it not been for his servants who defended him from
the Turks, they would have hacked his head, as they did that
of Amir Khuda Bird!, who was killed.

They also said that Ibn ‘Othman’s troops were in numbers
as swarms of locusts ; that some of them were armed with
muskets (firing a leaden bullet), and were carried in wooden
carts, drawn by oxen and buffaloes, moving at the head of
the advanced guard ; and many other things of this nature.

Amongst those who also returned were Amir Dolat Bai,
Governor of Gaza, and there at the time of the battle ; Amir
Bakhsh Bai, Inspector of Granaries, brother of Amir Kurt
Bai, formerly Vali of Cairo, wrongly reported as killed in the
battle of Merj Dabek; he had been hiding with the Arabs.
There also returned one of the subordinate Amirs, Kirkmas
al-Rabbi, reported killed in the same battle, and many others.

On the arrival of Jan Bird! al-Ghazali and Amir Erzamak
al-Nashif at the citadel, the Sultan clothed them in sleeveless
robes, lined with ermine, and they returned to their homes.
There was general rejoicing at their safety for they were
Knights of Islam, and bands played in their honour outside
their houses.

On the return of al-Ghazali with the Amirs and troops,
the correct list of losses was ascertained, and in every quarter
there was mourning, as if it were the Days of Judgment.

Orders were given by the Sultan that the first issue of pay
would be on Tuesday, the 6th. Early on the morning of this
day the troops went up to the citadel, and the Sultan began
to pay them, giving each Memlook twenty-five dinars,
including the usual money for the feast of “ Sacrifices ”. He
had first offered them thirty dinars each, and this they had
refused; but when they saw how serious matters were, and
[88] that Ibn ‘Othman was advancing and had even reached
Katiya, they agreed to accept twenty-five dinars. They
went down from the citadel and set about arming themselves
for departure.

The same day the Sultan received the bad news that

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

99

Sinan Pasha, one of Ibn ‘Othman’s Amirs, who had taken
possession of the town of Gaza, had put the people of the
place to the sword, killing about a thousand—men, women,
and children.

This act was perpetrated for the following reason :—-

During the engagement between al-Ghazali and Sinan
Pasha, a report was spread in Gaza that al-Ghazali had
gained a victory over the troops of Ibn ‘Othman, and had
killed Sinan Pasha, whereupon ‘Ali Bai, Deputy Dawadar of
Gaza, and his troops set to work to plunder the Turkish
camp, burning their tents and killing those Turks who were
in camp and in the town, about 400, including old men,
children, and the sick. As soon as the battle had gone
against the Egyptian troops and their Amirs, Sinan Pasha
returned to Gaza, where he discovered the destruction that
had been wrought. He then assembled all the people of
Gaza, and asked them who had committed such outrages;
they replied, “ ‘All Bai, the Dawadar of the Deputy of Gaza,
and his soldiers; we did none of it.” Sinan Pasha then
ordered a surprise search to be made in the houses of Gaza;
uniform and horses were found in them belonging to the
Turks. Then Sinan Pasha said, “ When we entered Gaza did
we disturb any of you, or plunder you of anything ? ” They
replied, “ No.” He said, “ Why have you done so to our
troops ? ” to which they had no answer or excuse to make.
Then he ordered his soldiers to put them to the sword, and
they massacred a multitude of them ; good and bad perished
together. Such was the divine decree, and it has been rightly
said, “ If Fate brings thee into distress through the sins of
thy past life, ask God to remove it, for He alone can do so.”

On Wednesday, the 7th, a number of nomad tribesmen of
Ghazalah, Muharib, and Huwarah, arrived at the royal gates.
The Sultan had compelled the Arab Sheikhs to bring a number
of their bravest Arab horsemen to accompany his troops on
the expedition. The Arabs assembled in great numbers at
Gizeh, and went thence to the Rumailah to parade before the

100

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYFT

Sultan in the Maidan. The prestige of the Memlooks had
been damaged in the eyes of the Arabs and Fellahin on account
of the defeats suffered at the hands of the Turks. I bn ‘Othman
was in possession of Syria, the people felt sure that the Cir¬
cassian Dynasty was tottering, and that it was Ibn ‘Othman
who was master of the country. Some of the people in reply
to a demand from their Sultan, said, “ We cannot pay tribute
until we are sure whether the country belongs to you or to
Ibn ‘Othman ; we do not want to pay it twice over. In fact,
confusion reigns on land and sea ; Heaven only knows what
will happen.”

On that day it was reported that the Sultan had given
orders for the messenger, before mentioned, who came from
Ibn ‘Othman, to be drowned; and it was said that he had
been actually drowned by night, and the Turks who were
with him.

At this time the Sultan began to distribute the grants to
the troops for the Feast of Sacrifices, but he did not give any
[89] to the Memlooks defeated with Ghazali, saying, “ You
ran away and did not fight at all; you betrayed the Amirs,
so that they suffered a defeat.” At this time also a rumour
ran amongst the people that the vanguard of Ibn ‘Othman’s
army had reached Katiya, and had taken the citadel of
Tinah, which had been destroyed by its inhabitants. This
report, however, lacked confirmation.

Saturday, the 17th, was the Feast of Sacrifices, so the
Sultan took part in the festival prayers, the Amirs attending,
as usual, in full-dress uniform. There was a grand festival
procession, but the people were in great fear and trembling
on account of Ibn ‘Othman . . . particularly on what they
had heard of the plundering and killing of the people of Gaza,
the taking captive of the women, and the massacre of the
children.

On Monday, the 12th, the Sultan paraded the Royal
ammunition column, which was to accompany the force. The
wooden vehicles which he had made for the expedition were

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

101

driven past him, as he was seated on the Maidan. There were
a hundred in all (known by the Turks as ‘Arabahs), each one
being drawn by a pair of oxen. They carried brass guns
which fired leaden balls.

The Sultan came down from his seat and mounted his
charger, holding a baton in his hand, and attended to the
proper arrangement of the vehicles as they went by. Then
wagons followed and two hundred camels bearing about
1,500 large shields, also powder, lead, iron, and wooden lances,
etc. In front of the wagons were four drums and fifes ; in
front of all marched some two hundred sharpshooters, con¬
sisting of Turcomans and Maghribis carrying white Ba‘lbec
standards, saying, “ God make the Sultan victorious.” They
were also accompanied by a body of slaves and others, bearing
naphtha to throw in front of the wagons. At the head of the
column rode Amir Moghul Bai, the Chief Armourer, and Yusuf,
Second Armourer, a number of the armoury rank and file,
and ‘Abd al-Basit, Superintendent. Al-ShihabI Ahmed Ibn
TulunI went with them, and a great number of carpenters
and blacksmiths, who had been detailed for the expedition.

They went out into the Rumailah by the Maidan gate,
passing by the tombs and on through Bastiyln by the Zawllah-
gate, and Cairo city. The streets resounded as they went
through, and the people lined their shops to see the sight. It
was a memorable day, and the people prayed for victory over
Ibn ‘Othman, the rebel. They wept when they beheld these
wagons and guns, and realized the great enterprise of the
Sultan. The column continued its way through Cairo, and
emerging at the Bab al-Nasr, proceeded to Raidaniyyeh,
halting near the tomb of al-‘Adil there. It was reported
that a woman was crushed to death in the crowd. On the
arrival of the wagons at the tomb of al-‘Adil they were drawn
up there to await the Amirs ; it was a day to be remembered
as a spectacle.

On Tuesday, the 13th, some people interceded for the
Memlooks from Gaza, who had not received the grant for the

102

THE OTTOMAN' CONQUEST OF EGYPT

Feast of Sacrifices from the Sultan. So the latter paid them
that day, after reprimanding them again, saying, [90] “You
fled and brought a defeat on the Amirs; you did not
fight at all, and disgraced yourselves in the eyes of the
people.”

On Wednesday, the 14th, al-Nasiri Muhammed Ibn Shems
al-Dln al-Kusuni, the Chief Doctor arrived at the Palace. He
had been a prisoner of Ibn ‘Othman’s in Aleppo, and escaped
thence with the Arabs, and for a considerable sum of
money they brought him to Egypt. He went up and had an
audience of the Sultan. He had altered his appearance,
shaved his chin, and disguised himself as an Arab, and thus
managed to escape. He told his story to the Sultan, and said
that Ibn ‘Othman’s troops were mutinous ; that he had lost
an enormous number of camels and horses owing to snow in
Syria ; that the prices of everything were exorbitant; that
the troops were suffering from the cold and the snow, and the
loss of their horses. It was reported that Ibn ‘Othman’s
troops had been in Gaza and had left it and were fleeing to the
hills; and that the Arabs were killing many of those whom
they found in the villages. On Thursday, the 15th, the
soldiers went up to receive their pay, but the eunuchs said to
them: “ Sirs, there is no pay to-day ; the country is laid
waste, the roads are infested by the Arabs, and the collectors
and the Sheikhs of the Arabs have not sent any of the amounts
due from them. If by Monday any of it is received it shall
be paid to you.” So the troops left the citadel distressed.
It was six months since they had received an issue of ration-
meat, and their pay was in arrears as well.

The same day the Sultan conferred a robe of honour on
Kanstih Rajlah, one of the chief Amirs, who had been Governor
of Katiya, and appointe'd him Inspector of the Sharkieh
Provinces instead of Kajmas, who had been found incapable
of improving their condition. Elmas, the Western Inspector,
retained his post; and Amir Abrak, the Vizir and Ustadar,
also retained his ; the latter’s dismissal had been reported.

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

103

Egyptian affairs had then fallen into great confusion owing
to a variety of causes.

On Friday the Sultan took part in the prayers of the day.
Then he conferred a distinction on Atabek Sudun al-Dawadari,
and appointed him to command the troops on the expedition.
At this time, also, Amir Takt Bai, the Chief Chamberlain,
arrived. He had started with the expedition to Gaza, but had
declared himself ill and remained at Salihiyyeh. After the
defeat of Jan Bird! al-Ghazali, and his return to Egypt, the
rest of the Amirs remained at Salihiyyeh waiting for the
departure of the second expedition. So when Amir Takt
Bai arrived without the others, the Amirs were distressed.
The Amirs and the troops considered him incapable; in
fact, he was detested by the whole army. On this day
the Sultan ordered the Arab tribesmen who had arrived
in the city to return to their homes, as the Amirs had
pointed out to him that the Arabs would be of no use on
the expedition.

During this month the Sultan conferred a distinction on
[91] Amir Inal, treasurer to al-Amlr Tara Bai, one of the Amirs
of Tens, and appointed him Governor of Damietta, instead of
the existing governor.

On Sunday, the 18th, the Sultan received the bad news that
Ibn ‘Othman himself had left Syria with his army, and was
marching on Egypt. He was said to have divided his forces
into two, and to be sending one army along the royal route
and another through the desert.

On receipt of this news the Sultan assembled the Amirs,
and a council of war was held. It was reported that he would
himself go to Baidaniyyeh and remain there,' and that the
troops would be formed into two forces, one going in the
direction of ‘Ajrud and the other to the place whence
the messenger had come. The Amirs had decided that the
expedition should be dispatched at the beginning of the new
year; but when this bad news reached them confusion reigned
among them, and the Sultan ordered them to send out tents

104

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

quickly to Raidaniyyeh, and to be on the look-out, as Ibn
‘Othman had reached Gaza.

It was said that he had gone to visit Jerusalem, and would
then march with his troops into Egypt. Some said one thing
and some another, so that people were at a loss where to go
till this trouble should be over. The Sultan ordered the
Inspector of the troops to go round to all the Amirs to urge
them to send their tents to Raidaniyyeh that day—so this
was done.

The Sultan also issued a proclamation to all Maghribis
in Egypt and Cairo to parade for inspection the next day.

On Monday, the 19th, the Sultan took his seat on the dais
in the courtyard, and a great number of the Maghribis came up,
but on their arrival at the citadel the Sultan did not go out to
meet them; he sent Amir Shad Bey, the “ one-eyed ”, to them,
who said : “ The Sultan commands you to select a thousand
of your bravest men to take part in the expedition.” Where¬
upon they sent to the Sultan, saying : “ It is not our custom
to go with the army; we are only to fight against the Franks,
and not against Muhammedans,” and they showed they were
on Ibn ‘Othman’s side.

The Sultan was annoyed by their reply, and sent to tell
them that if they did not go out to fight the imported
Memlooks would kill all theMaghribis in Egypt to the last man.

At this time it was reported that Ibn ‘Othman had sent a
letter to the Sheikh of the Arabs, Ahmed Ibn Bakar, offering
him a pardon, saying : “ Enter into our allegiance and receive
our pardon, and meet us at Salihiyyeh with a thousand ardebbs
of barley.” It was said that ‘Abd al-Da’im Ahmed Ibn Bakar,
who was a rebfel, had gone to Ibn ‘Othman to Gaza, and there
were endless stories in circulation about Ibn ‘Othman.

On this Monday also the Sultan ordered a parade of all
ranks for the following day at Raidaniyyeh, fully accoutred.
The Sultan went down to the Maidan, said the afternoon
prayers, then rode off to Raidaniyyeh and remained in camp
there, for the first time since his accession.

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

105

On Tuesday, the 20th, the troops paraded under arms for
inspection of the Sultan. That day the chief Amirs went out
to Raidaniyyeh, that is, the Amirs detailed for the expedition.
They went out in detachments fully armed (???). [92]
Takt Bai, Chief Chamberlain, was said to be excused for
ill-health, but most probably he went. The rest of the chief
Amirs of thousands started off, all the Amirs of Tablkhanah
and Tens, and the Egyptian troops; only a small number of
Amirs and soldiers remained behind.

There were more troops employed on this expedition than
under al-Ghuri, and this Sultan had displayed great energy
in making wagons and forging guns, in the manufacture of
muskets, and the raising of a very larg4 number of musketeers.
In all this he showed a great amount of energy and
high purpose, hoping that Allah would give him the victory
over I bn ‘Othman, for the latter had attacked the Egyptian
army without provocation, and for every tyrant there exists
somewhere a place or mode of death.

The Sultan gave orders that when they fought in three days’
time the big elephants should accompany the troops into
battle. On their departure that day the Sultan rode from his
camp to the Mastabah at Raidaniyyeh, the place where the
rations were served out. He sat there while a great concourse
of men assembled under arms, covering the whole plain.
There also were gathered the great majority of the common
people, and even the women ; shouts were raised and prayers
uttered for victory for the Sultan. It was a memorable day,
and when the Sultan looked at the troops he did not inspect
them there, but proclaimed that the troops of all ranks were
to assemble at Salihiyyeh for inspection, and that he would
not go there until after the troops were assembled, and that
he would then return to the citadel; the latter was the proper
course to take.

On Thursday, the 24th, the Sultan was still at Raidaniyyeh,
and on that day the remnant of the troops left. There was
no excuse for their departure being prolonged, the Sultan
having urged them to start with the utmost dispatch.

106

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OE EGYPT

When the Sultan left the citadel he took with him Kasim
Bev, one of Ibn ‘Othman’s sons, the boy of whom mention
has been made. The Sultan had given him a special outfit
and ornaments, and ordered him to go with the troops, and
to stand, when in action, under the Royal Standard. It was
said that Ibn ‘Othman was uneasy about this boy, and that
the majority of his soldiers were favourably inclined towards
him, and said that if Selim Shah were defeated they had no
one but their master’s son to succeed him.

The same day there was a report that the Ruler of Rhodes
had sent the Sultan a thousand musketeers, and a number
of ships containing powder ; that these ships had entered the
port of Damietta ; and that they were sent by the Ruler of
Rhodes to help the Sultan of Egypt against Ibn ‘Othman,
who had designs upon Egypt. But nothing came of this ; it
was mere idle rumour without foundation.

When the Sultan went out to Raidaniyyeh it was said that
he would proceed to Salihiyyeh to meet Ibn ‘Othman’s
[93] forces, but the Amirs prevented his going, telling him
that fighting would only take place between them at
Raidaniyyeh.

The merchants began to transfer their goods from the
shops in the market into secret places for safe keeping, but
none of their goods escaped. On that day most people
removed from the suburbs and went into Cairo, and lived
there.

The well-to-do people moved their belongings to the
monasteries, schools, and burial-grounds, and to the houses of
the common folk in the grazing grounds for safe keeping ; but
none of their property escaped, as will be seen later.

At the end of this year Shihabi Ahmed Ibn al-Amir
Asnbagha al-Tayyari died; he was formerly Chief of the
Guards, and belonged to a family of chiefs. He was a
venerable and excellent chief; he was nearly 90 when he
died, and one of the oldest inhabitants of the land.

On Thursday, the 22nd, news came that Ibn ‘Othman

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

107

had left Gaza, and that his advanced guard had reached
‘Arish. It was reported that the Sultan had ordered a
trench to be dug from the fountain of ‘Allan up to Jebel
Ahmer (red mountain) and beyond the fields of Matariyyeh,
and he then erected large shields along that trench, the guns
were drawn up and arranged round them and the wooden
carriages, already mentioned as having been made at the
citadel. Then the Sultan ordered Amir Mamay al-Saghir, the
Inspector of Markets, to issue a proclamation to the shop¬
keepers, chandlers, bakers, and butchers in Cairo to bring their
goods to the camp at the tomb of al-‘Adil, and establish a
market there for the troops. The Sultan instructed the Vail
to proclaim that all the soldiers who had remained behind
should go out to Raidaniyyeh. So the torch-bearers (?) gave it
out in the quarters and streets that the Royal Memlooks were
to go out to the camp that day, under penalty of being hung
forthwith at their own doors. The Sultan caused this to be
proclaimed twice on that day, for he learnt that many of
the Royal Memlooks used to go out early in the morning
to the camp, so that the Sultan might see them, and return
to spend the night in their houses, and this displeased the
Sultan, and he ordered them to spend every night in camp.

On Friday, the 23rd, news came that Ibn ‘Othman’s
advance guard had reached Katlya, which greatly disturbed
the people. On Saturday, the 24th, the Sultan inspected
the troops in camp, and the whole body of them paraded.
The Sultan promised them that if they fought bravely against
Ibn ‘Othman’s army and defeated them he would pay them
ten ashrafls each, and give each of them a sword and shield.
He ordered Amir Ans Bai, Master of the Horse, to effect
a reconciliation between the roughs of al-Salibah and the
roughs of the town. It was reported on that day that the
Sultan set to work to construct a wall to protect the guns
which he had posted at Raidaniyyeh, and that the Sultan
carried some of the stone^ himself with the workmen. When
the soldiers saw that the Sultan was carrying stones himself

108

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

the Memlooks set to work to do the same, and to help the
workmen to excavate the ditch and make the wall for the
protection of the guns.

Then the news arrived that Ibn ‘Othman’s troops had
[94] reached Belbeis.

On Sunday, the 25th, al-Amir Kansuh al-‘AdilT, the
Inspector of the Sharkieh, returned. The Sultan had sent him
to find out information about Ibn ‘Othman’s forces when they
had arrived near Salihiyyeh. When the Amir Kansuh reached
Salihiyyeh he saw that a party of Ibn ‘Othman’s men were
there. He captured two of them, decapitated them, and
brought their heads before the Sultan. With them was a man
from Aleppo, belonging to Khair Bey, the Governor, who had
intrigued against the Sultan al-Ghuri and joined Ibn ‘Othman.
This man gave the following information to the Sultan,
Tfiman Bai:—

“ Khair Bey, Governor of Aleppo, is coming against you
with Ibn Suwar and a number of Ibn ‘Othman’s Amirs
and an advanced guard of 8,000 of his cavalry. But their
horses are exhausted with fatigue and hunger, and food is
scarce among the troops.” On this man were found a
number of letters from Khair Bey, Governor of Aleppo, to
the chief Amirs in Egypt. So the Sultan took the letters and
put the man in irons.

It was reported that the commander of Ibn ‘Othman’s
force, on entering into Belbeis, proclaimed pardon and
security, promising that none of the inhabitants, nor the
fellahin, should be ill-treated by the Turkish soldiers. Next
came the news that Ibn ‘Othman’s troops were at ‘Ikrishah.

On learning this the Sultan was anxious to go out with the
troops and engage them then and there, but he was prevented
by the Amirs. It would have been for the best had he done so,
as their horses were at a standstill from fatigue and hunger,
and most of Ibn ‘Othman’s force had marched on foot from
the time they left Syria and were extremely tired. The
Sultan would probably have been able to defeat them before

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

109

they could reach Khankah and find supplies of fodder and drink
and could rest from their fatigues. But the Amirs would not
have it so, and the Turks succeeded in entering Khankah.
Then the Sultan ordered his troops to pass that night in front
of the camp in the saddle, fully accoutred, and only to sleep
in turns for fear of a night attack. An intense fear of
Ibn ‘Othman’s forces now prevailed amongst the Circassians.
On the approach of his army to Khankah most of the in¬
habitants left with their families and goods, and went into
Cairo for fear of plunder and massacre by the Turks. Then
the Salim! Arabs began to lay hold of any Turks they could
catch, ahd, decapitating them, brought their heads to the
Sultan, who ordered them to be hung up on the Bab al-Nasr,
and Bab Zawllah.

The Sultan inspected the troops in Raidaniyyeh, fully
accoutred, with the chief and subordinate Amirs ; the former
were accompanied by the drums and fifes, and it was an
important day. The Sultan then went out to Birkah al-Haj
[95] with the Amirs and all the troops; he returned to camp
preceded by torches, drums, and fifes.

The columns of troops extended from Jebel al-Ahmer to
the fields of Matariyyeh, the whole plain was covered with
them. It was said that the Sultan, on hearing that Ibn
‘Othman was at Belbeis, ordered that the granaries there and
in the neighbourhood, and even those in Khankah, should be
burnt. Great quantities of straw, bran, wheat, barley, and
beans were burnt, to save them from Ibn ‘Othman’s troops,
who required them for themselves and their horses, and would
have been thus strengthened for the fight.

The following incident was said to have happened before
the end of this year. The Sultan was sitting in his tent when
a Turcoman entered wearing a red cap and a quiver, with a
muffler drawn over his face. The Sultan had a few of his
suite with him. On approaching the Sultan he was pushed
back by some of the eunuchs, who were standing by, and
when his chest was touched a pair of long breasts were found,

110

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

and the blanket being drawn off a Turcoman woman was
revealed. The Sultan, suspecting she had come to murder
him, ordered her to be taken out. They then found that the
woman was wearing a coat of mail tfnder her clothes, and was
carrying a large dagger. The imported Memlooks, seeing this,
struck at her with their swords. They felt sure she had meant
to murder the Sultan. After she had been killed the Sultan
ordered her to be suspended on the Bab al-Nasr.

Then the Sultan sent two heads by the Vail’s Dawadar;
one was thought to be that of Ibrahim al-Samarkandi, and
the other that of one of Ibn ‘Othman’s Amirs. Both were
fastened up over a shop by the Zawilah-gate.

One of the Arabs had plotted against Ibrahim Samarkandi;
he had entertained him, and Samarkandi spent the night with
him; he had come with Ibn ‘Othman’s forces. During the
night the Bedouin cut his head off, and at daybreak took it
to the Sultan, Tuman Bai, and asked him what he would give
to the person who would bring him Ibrahim Samarkandi’s
head. The Sultan said : “ A thousand dinars.” He then
produced the head from under his cloak, saying, “ Here it
is.” After having this verified, the Sultan paid him the
thousand dinars.

Ibrahim Samarkandi came originally from al-Medinah.
He travelled from Persia to Turkey, and was acquainted with
the Turkish language. He went into Egypt and became
one of the Sultan’s al-Ghuri’ personal friends. On the latter’s
defeat he joined Selim Shah Ibn ‘Othman, and became one
of his suite. It was said that it was he who suggested to Ibn
‘Othman that he should enter Egypt and take possession of it
[96] and exterminate the Circassians. Samarkandi was a great
tyrant, and had he lived to see Ibn ‘Othman in possession of
Egypt the people would never have received any good from
him, and he himself brought all sorts of charges against the
dignitaries of Egypt. But Allah gave the people relief from
his evil ways.

On Wednesday, the 28th, news arrived that Ibn ‘Othman’s

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

111

advanced guard was at Birkah al-Haj, which put the military-
in Cairo into a state of great consternation. They closed the
Bab al-Futuh and Bab al-Nasr, and the Bab al-ShaTiyveh,
also the Bab al-Bahr and the Bab al-Kantarah, and other
gates of the town. The markets in Cairo were closed, the mills
were stopped, and bread and flour became scarce.

As soon as the Sultan had confirmation of the reports that
Ibn ‘Othman’s army had arrived at Birkah al-Haj, he sounded
the alarm in camp. All the troops and chief Amirs and the
Amirs of Tablkhanah and of Tens, and Kasim Bey Ibn ‘Othman
mounted. The total of the assembled forces, including the
Royal Memlooks and Arabs, amounted to some 20,000 horse¬
men, with about thirty standards. The drums and fifes
sounded to battle, and the Sultan Tuman Bai rode round,
personally posted the Amirs according to their ranks, and drew
up his forces from Jebel Ahmer to the fields of Matariyyeh.
An immense force was assembled, and the Sultan displayed a
lofty courage (?). Had the Sultan al-Ghurl been alive he would
not have done a fraction of what Sultan Tuman Bai did. But
Allah did not grant him the victory over Ibn ‘Othman. No
battle took place that day between the opposing forces,
neither of them went out to meet the adversary. On that day
a few Turks’ heads were cut off and sent to be suspended on
the gates of the city.

On Thursday, the 29th, a tremendous engagement took place,
the mere mention of which is enough to strike terror into the
hearts of men and its horrors to unhinge their reason.

To sum up, it may be said that the Sultan Tuman Bai,
after encamping at Raidaniyyeh, fortified it with cannons
and guns, arranged a line of shields and wooden defences for
them, and dug a trench from Jebel Alimer to the Matariyyeh
fields. In rear of the guns he placed about a thousand camel
loads of sacks of forage, and on the pack-saddles he fastened
white and red banners, which fluttered in the breeze. He also
collected a number of oxen to draw the vehicles. He expected
a long battle between himself and Ibn ‘Othman, or even a long

112

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

siege; matters, however, turned out differently. Ibn
‘Othman’s forces halted two days at Birkah al-IIaj, but the
Sultan Tuman Bai did not venture to advance against them ;
he ought to have done so, and given them battle there,
before they could get into Raidaniyyeh. On Thursday Ibn
'Othman’s force came on, and his advanced guard reached
Jebel Ahmer.

On learning this the Sultan sounded the alarm in camp, and
ordered the troops to move out to engage Ibn ‘Othman’s
army. The drums beat to battle, the chief Amirs and the whole
force mounted, and extended across the plain. [97] Ibn
‘Othman’s soldiers came on like locusts in multitude and they
were superior in point of numbers. The two armies met in
the outskirts of Raidaniyyeh, and a terrible battle ensued,
which it would take long to describe, a greater battle than that
which took place in Merj Dabek. Countless numbers of the
Turks were killed, including Sinan Pasha, Ibn ‘Othman’s
former tutor and his Chief Vizir, and a great many of his
Amirs. Their bodies lay scattere4 from ‘Allan’s fountain (?)
to the tomb of Amir Yeshbek, the Dawadar. Then the Turks
recovered, coming up from every direction like clouds. They
divided into two forces, one advancing under Jebel Ahmer, and
the other by the camp at Raidaniyyeh. The noise of their
musketry was deafening, and their attack furious. In a short
time countless numbers of Egyptian troops had fallen,
including a great many of the chief Amirs, among whom was
Ezbek, the Gunner. Atabek Sudun, the Dawadar, was
seriously wounded, some say that his thigh was broken and
that he hid in a field there. Amir ‘Allan, the Dawadar, was
also wounded. In the short space of about sixty minutes the
Egyptian army was defeated and in full retreat.

Tuman Bai stood his ground about eighty minutes after
this, and fought on with a few of his armed slaves and
Memlooks, inflicting great losses on Ibn ‘Othman’s men.
Finally, when the Turks were too many for him, finding him¬
self deserted by his troops, and fearing capture, he folded up

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

113

the Royal Standard, and ran and concealed himself; some
say that he went towards Tara.

This was the third defeat the Egyptian army had suffered.

The Turkish force that had advanced under cover of Jebel
Ahmer, came down upon the tents of the Sultan, plundering
everything, kit, arms, horses, camels, and oxen, including
the guns the Sultan had put into position there, with the
shields and palisading, and the vehicles on which the Sultan
had spent so much time, labour, and money, and from which
he had reaped no advantage. Everything in the camp was
plundered. Such was the decree of Fate.

After the flight of the Sultan and the looting of the camp,
numbers of Turks carried sword and violence into Cairo.
Some proceeded to Maksharah, and burning the doors let
out the prisoners, including a number of Turks whom the
Sultan had imprisoned when he was at Raidaniyyeh. They
also released all those in Dllem and Rahbah.

Then they went on to the house of Amir Khair Bey, the
architect, one of the chief Amirs, and plundered that. The
house of Y unus, the Interpreter, and those of many of the
Amirs, the leading executive officials, and people holding
honourable positions were similarly treated. Rascals and slaves
set to work to rob the houses under the mask of Turks, and
firebrands were, as it were, thrown about amongst the people
of the city. Many Turks entered the mills and took away the
mules and worn-out horses and a number of camels belonging
to the water-carriers. They plundered, in fact, everything
[98] that came in their way, whether dry goods or anything
else. The pillaging went on all that day until after sunset.

Then they went to the granaries in Cairo and Bfilak, and
plundered the grain which was public property. No one had
thought that they would do this, but such was the decree
of Fate.

Ibn Suwar was killed at Raidaniyyeh in this engagement,
and was buried in his grandfather’s tomb, opposite the tomb
of the Dawadar Yeshbek.

8

114

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

Sinan Pasha, Ibn ‘Othman’s Vizir, was also killed.

Sheikh Bedr al-DTn al-Zeitunl wrote this lament:—

“ We weep over Egypt and her people—

Her prosperous places have become desolate, and
The once glorious has become the inglorious ! ”

On Monday, the last week of the year a.h. 922, the Amir
of the Faithful, Mohammed al-Mutewekkil ‘ala Allah, entered
Cairo, accompanied by Ibn ‘Othman’s ministers, and a large
force of Turkish soldiers. The following also returned :—

(1) Malik al-’Umara Khair Bey.

(2) Kemal al-Dln al-Tawil, Chief Kadi of the Shafi‘1 Sect.

(3) The Malik! Kadi Muhyl al-Dln al-Demiri.

(4) The Hanbali Kadi Shihab al-Dln al-Futul.ri.

All these had been prisoners of Ibn ‘Othman since the
death of the Sultan al-Ghurl.

The Khalifah entered by the Bab al-Nasr, and traversed
Cairo, preceded by torch-bearers. He announced a public
pardon, and general security and continuance of trade. No
one was to be molested by the Turkish soldiers. It was
further proclaimed that the door of oppression was closed and
that of justice opened, and that whoever was found harbouring
a Circassian Memlook would be hung forthwith.

The cry “ Long live the victorious King Selim Shah ! ” was
raised on all sides.

These proclamations were, however, disregarded by the
Turks, who fell to plundering people’s houses and even the
suburban villas under the pretext of searching for Circassian
Memlooks. This pillaging and attacking the houses of the
Amirs, soldiers, and people continued for three days. Not
a horse nor mule, nor clothing, nor anything great or small was
left untouched.

About that time Yunus al-‘Adili returned, and Khushkadam,
who had been Inspector of Granaries in Egypt and had fled
from al-Ghuri to the Turkish dominions, and had instigated
this great rebellion.

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGVPT

115

On Friday the Khutbah was delivered in the name of
Sultan Selim Shah from the pulpits in Egypt and Cairo. Some
of the preachers in their addresses referred to him as follows :
“ Ood save the Sultan, Ibn al-Sultan, King of the two
continents and the two seas ; conqueror of the two armies,
Sultan of the two ‘Iraks, servant of the two sacred cities, the
victorious King Selim Shah. 0 Lord of both worlds, grant
that he may ever be victorious.”

This brings to a close our account of the events of the
year a.h. 922.

The year ends with war and sorrow—the people are in the
direst extremities. All this has come upon them in accordance
with the decree of Fate.

[99] Then commenced the year a.h. 923, the first day of
Mul.iarrem being a Saturday.

To-day the Sultan Selim Shah sent a body of Janissaries
and posted them at the gates of the city to prevent the houses
being plundered. After the defeat of the Egyptian army the
Sultan Selim Shah moved his camp from Birkah al-Haj
Raidaniyyeh. The Turks set to work to catch the Circassian
Memlooks, taking them from the tombs and cemeteries and
from the gardens of Matariyyeh, and bringing them before
the Sultan, who ordered them to be decapitated.

Some Arab Sheikhs arrested Atabek Sudun Dawadarl and
brought him before the Sultan Selim Shah. The latter abused
him, and though he found that he was wounded and had
a broken thigh, and was in a dying condition, he had no pity
on him, but mounted him on a donkey, with a blue turban
on his head, and publicly exposed him in his camp. He
even intended to exhibit him in Cairo; but he died on the
back of the donkey. It was said that they cut off his head
after his death and hung it up in the camp. And so this
slaughter of the Circassians continued; it was said that over
four hundred Circassian slaves and Arabs from the Sharkleh
and Gharbieh provinces were slain.

Then Ibn ‘Othman sent for His Highness Muhammed, son

116

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OK EGYPT

of the Sultan al-Ghuri, and dressed him in a green velvet and
gold-embroidered kaftan, and an ‘Osmanli turban, and gave
him a paper guaranteeing his safety, and issued instructions
for him to reside in the college which his father had built at
Sharabishiyin.

Then Amir Yusuf al-Badri, the Vizir, went to the Sultan,
received a pardon, was dressed in a velvet kaftan, and
appointed Superintendent to the Gharbieh provinces. The
Sultan conferred robes of honour on :—

1. Amir Faris Seyfl Tamraz, and appointed him Inspector
of Minieh and other places in the North.

2. Al-ZeinT Berekat Ibn Musa, and appointed him Inspector
of Markets, empowering him to make what appointments he
should think fit.

On Sunday % the 2nd, it was reported that the Sultan Selim
Shah had moved his camp from Raidaniyyeh to Bulak, where
it occupied the ground from the embankment to the end of the
central island, and that the keys of the citadel were brought
there ; but he preferred to reside on the bank of the Nile.

As soon as a great many Turks had assembled in Cairo they
began to reconnoitre the quarters, streets, and markets, and
whenever they met people wearing red caps and small turbans
they said to them, “ You are Circassian?,” and beheaded
them. So the people and even the Amirs and royal princes
took to wearing large turbans, and so the light turbans and
caps were abolished in Egypt.

On Monday, the 3rd, the Sultan formed a cavalcade and
entered Cairo by the Bab al-Nasr, and went through the city,
preceded by an immense number of led horses and a large
force of infantry and cavalry, which occupied the whole of
the streets ; the procession went through the Zawllah Gate
under the Rab‘, and on to Bulak, to the camp under the
embankment. As the Sultan passed through the city he
was cheered by all the populace.

He was described as having a fair complexion, a clean-
• shaven chin, and large nose and eyes, as being short in stature,

THE OTTOMAN CONQUEST OF EGYPT

117

and wearing a small turban. He showed levity and restlessness,
turning his head from side to side as he rode along. He was
said to be about forty years of age. He had not the dignity
of former Sultans. He was of an evil disposition, blood¬
thirsty, violent-tempered, and intolerant of being answered.
As he passed through Cairo he was preceded by the Khalifah,
the four Judges, and a number of the executive officers. He
issued proclamations daily in Cairo, assuring the public of
security. Nevertheless, the plundering continued, his.
proclamations were ignored, and the people suffered extremely
in consequence.

Amongst other things related of him was that he had given
out at some of his councils in Damascus that on entering
Egypt he would burn all the houses and put the people to the
sword; but the Khalifah was said to have induced him to
give up that intention, otherwise there was nothing to prevent
him carrying out his threat.

The damage inflicted by the Turks went on to such a degree
that some of the upper classes and officials took to getting
Turks to stand as guards at their doors, to prevent the spoiling
of their houses. The Turks would arrest people in the streets,
telling them they were Circassians ; and when they declared
that they were not, they would tell them to ransom themselves
from death, and extort whatever sums of money they chose—
so that the people really became their prisoners. The scum
and the scoundrels of Egypt used to inform the ‘Osmanlis
of the resources of the princesses and ladies, and their costly
clothing was carried off. In short, the treasure houses of
the land fell into the hands of the Turks in Egypt, with
clothing and weapons, horses, and mules, male and female
slaves, and everything of value. They obtained there what
they had never had in their own country, and what none of
them had ever seen before, not even their great Master.

Stephen Austin <t Sons, Ltd., Printers, Hertford.

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

9020 02482778 7